What To Do When You Think You Can't

Is there anything you’d like to do, but you doubt your ability to do it? Maybe, you wonder if you have the natural talent, the resources, or the know-how. You wonder if you’ll be able to stick with it and do what it takes. Or maybe, you have some fear that doing it will change your life or take you out of your comfort zone.

What is it that you want to grow in your life? What is it that has kept you from doing that up to now? In this article, we’ll look at a powerful mindset and three proven strategies for doing what you really want in a way that is natural, comfortable, and doable for you.

One of the many things that keep us from reaching our goals and dreams is being in too much of a hurry to get there. We want to have the end result right away. Not only is this short-sighted, it also saps the joy out of life. If there’s something you want to be, do, or have, rather than rushing to have it, begin by “enjoying the journey.”

In other words, enjoy each step along the way. The purpose of a goal is to have a journey. You may think this is cliché, but it’s actually quite a powerful mindset. You’ll not only be more successful, you’ll also have more fun and discover deeper meaning, learning, and purpose in the process.

With that mindset in place, prepare for your journey. Good preparation gives you the knowledge, skills, and confidence that show you that what you want is possible. A solid first step is to find someone who is already doing what you want to do and study them.

Find a role model. Learn how they got started, the obstacles they faced, and how they overcame them. Read their online bio, watch or listen to interviews, read a book they’ve written, or, if you can, invite them to lunch and ask them to tell you their story.

This will show you that your role model was once in your shoes. They weren’t so different from where you are now. They had their own doubts, fears, and challenges—or maybe even greater ones. But they also had a passion like you do. They persisted and so can you! Remember, no one starts at the top of their game. Everyone starts with some talent and a passion that motivates them, then, takes small steps up the ladder of success, as they are able.

Next, do some research about the techniques and resources that your role model uses. Find out what they know, what they do, and how they do it. If it’s possible to take a course they offer or to be mentored by them, that’s awesome. Maybe someone else in the field offers a course you could take. Otherwise, there might be a program your role model used that you can use to. Research their techniques and practice them.

Finally, take any action, no matter how small, to grow what you desire. Take some action every day to build what you want. Your first actions can be research, writing notes in your own words, practicing skills, or even just talking to others about what you want to do. One word of caution: be careful who you tell. If you tell someone else what you want to do, make sure it’s someone supportive, especially at the start. Otherwise, best to keep your desire in your heart and grow it strong there first.

Now, what is one small action you know how to take right now that is in any way related to what you desire? Begin there. Do that today. Then, ask the same question again tomorrow—and take that action. Make small, very-doable actions a daily practice.

Every great achievement is just a collection of consistent small steps. As you take those steps, one by one, you’ll soon discover that you’ve built momentum. What you truly desire will take on a life of its own and carry you along for the ride. That’s The Power of Practice™.

Build your dreams, a little every day!