June 25, 2025 Can Do vs Cannot Do
"If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning."
- Mahatma Gandhi
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Listen to, or read this meditation on audio:
Let’s talk about something that shapes every single day of our lives - the spirit we carry inside us. You know, there are really only two kinds of spirits dancing around in our heads and our hearts: the ‘can-do spirit’ and the ‘cannot-do spirit’. And here's the beautiful truth - both are built exactly the same way.
Consider the magnificent power of repetition and then think of your spirit like a muscle. Every time you say "I can't do this" or "That's too hard for me," you're doing push-ups for your cannot-do spirit. You're making it stronger, more confident, more likely to show up tomorrow. But here's the flip side - every time you whisper "I can try" or "Let me figure this out," you're building those can-do muscles instead.
It's like choosing which song to play on repeat. Play the "I can't" song enough times, and it becomes your theme song. Play the "I can" song, and suddenly you're dancing to a completely different rhythm.
The quality of our lives - the joy, the adventures, the relationships, the dreams we chase - all of it depends on which spirit we're feeding every day. When we practice the cannot-do spirit, life feels heavy, doors seem locked, and opportunities look like obstacles. But when we practice the can-do spirit, even challenges start looking like puzzles waiting to be solved. We get multiple chances each day to build our can-do muscles. Try starting small. When your brain says “I can’t cook,” try “I can learn one recipe.” When it whispers “I’m not good with people” practice “I can smile at one person today.”
Remember, both spirits are strengthened in the same manner – by repetition. The beautiful part is you get to choose which spirit you're building. Every moment is a new chance to practice the spirit that will create the life you truly want. Which spirit will you feed today?
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