From the POWerful Minds SeriesBy Robyn J.A. Silverman, PhD
Is your goal to become financially free this year? Click
hereIs your goal to have a more respectful, calm family life this year? Click
hereMany POWerful bits of information come in 7s. Seven numbers in a phone number,
seven days in a week, and seven wonders of the world. Most people say that their
favorite number between 1 and 10 is seven. Of course, seven can showcase the
bad things of this world as well, such as the seven deadly sins to avoid, and now…
The Seven POWerful Downers that hold People back from Goal-setting Success
No. Can’t. Won’t. Never. Maybe. If. Someday.
No: Such a small word but like an ant, powerful for its size. It is arguably
one of the most powerful words in the English dictionary. Definitive by nature,
it requires no other explanation for what it means. It is the enemy of progress
and the dasher of dreams.
Can’t: This word is a mind-trick. “Can’t” is the little voice inside our heads
that tells us what we are not able to do. While we may have never tried it
before or attempted to do something in this particular way at this particular
time, “can’t” has already decided the outcome. Adding on a simple apostrophe
and that one little letter “t” takes this word from emphatic and positive to
pathetic and negative.
Won’t: Won’t is our inner child throwing the proverbial tantrum. “Won’t” is
bratty and uppity, immature and insistent in getting its way. With folded arms,
nose up in the air, and a smug look, “won’t” will easily cut off its nose to
spite its face.
Never: A POWerful Downer indeed. “Never” is infinite permanence. “Never” robs
us of our power of choice for the future. What feels impossible today is
assumed to be insurmountable in the future despite changes in circumstance,
wisdom, and guts.
Maybe: This word is just plain wishy-washy. It means nothing. Neither gutsy
enough to say yes or direct enough to say no, “maybe” provides little hope for
progress when there has been no definitive commitment.
If: This tiny word is full of it. Projection, that is. “If” blames others when
things don’t go its way. “If” takes the onus off of itself and lays it like a
monkey on someone else’s back. It has the power of negating everything said
before it with just one small insertion. It whines and begs for someone else to
do the work or just simply, make it happen.
Someday: While this word seems genteel enough, the reality is, it wants to sell
you a bill of goods. It’s a snake-oil salesman. “Someday” is procrastination
in action—there is no commitment, no follow-through, and no progress. “Someday”
might tease someone—it might play a trick or two on the brain, but someday has
no power for good until someday becomes today.
Actions may speak louder than words, however, these words bark loudly in one’s
head. It is already February! Where are you on the goals you set in January?
In 2006, you can make a choice to fill your mind with “yes,” “I can,” “I
will,” “always,” and “now” or with the POWerful Downers detailed above. They
are your goals, your dreams, your hopes, and your life. Take back the power.
After all, haven't the best things in life happened when you had the guts to say
yes to something?
Here’s to progress!
Robyn
* Note: Publicated of this article must be accompanied with the following websites:
http://www.discoverfreedom.org/drrobynhttp://www.powerfulfamily.com