From 'I Can't' to 'I Can't, Yet'

How one word can change your life

Have you ever said ”I can’t” to yourself?

There’s a young athlete.

Every time he hit the track, a voice in his head said,

“You’re not fast enough.

“Not strong enough.

Not good enough.”

With every stumble, that voice gets louder.

It’s shouting, “I CAN’T do it.”

His life became brutal.

Every day, he started his day in dread.

Tryng to run faster, lift heavier, get better.

Whatever he did, the voice told him down.

He was on the brink of desperation.

But one day, his coach pulled him aside and said,

“Have you noticed a change in yourself?”

“What—?” said the athlete, confused.

His coach said, “Haven’t you noticed? You were much faster, stronger, better than last week.“

“You can’t do it YET, but you’re getting there.”

“You can’t do it YET.”

That simple addition of three letters, sparked something new.

The athlete began to see

• obstacles as temporary,

• challenges as opportunities,

• setbacks as steps on his route to success.

He knew that he was on the way to his goal, he just hadn’t reached it yet.

This small shift in mindset changed everything.

He was no longer on the brink of desperation.

Every day, he started his day in earnest.

“You’re not fast enough. Not strong enough. Not good enough, yet.”

Years later, as he held his gold medal in his hand, he knew.

He is fast, strong and great now.

Is that how it’s for you?

You’re staring at a goal, a dream, at something big.

The first thing that pops into your head is, “I can’t.”

You’ve felt it too, right?

That nagging doubt when you’re about to take on something new or challenging.

I remembered it well.

Few years back I took up a leadership challenge.

It was the most horrifying experience for me because:

• I’ve been timid all my life

• I’m super shy and socially awkward

• I’ve never done anything like it before

But it’s also the most liberating.

It taught me dare to fail.

That’s why I’m writing here, chasing my dream.

If you say you can’t, you can’t

When you approach the edge of your comfort zone, have you heard yourself say, I can’t?

Two simple words that will punch self-doubt right into your head.

A brick wall that stops your progress dead in its tracks.

Every “I can’t” is:

• a missed opportunity

• a door closed on potential

• a step backward from where you want to be

Add in the yet, “I can’t” becomes “I can” in the future.

Yet is not just positive thinking.

It’s a mindset shift that opens doors, sparks creativity, and ignites action.

Science backs this up.

Research shows that our brains are wired to respond to positive affirmations.

When you say, “I can,” you’re not just speaking words.

You’re rewiring your brain to believe in possibilities.

Thomas Edison didn’t invent the lightbulb by saying, “I can’t.”

He approached each failure with the mindset that he could and would eventually succeed.

This is the power of reframing your thoughts—obstacles are stepping stones.

Once you get over them, they strengthened you.

From “I can’t” to “I can” - a practical mindset shift

It’s not just for you to feel good about yourself.

Use it to free yourself from:

• Self doubt

• Limiting beliefs

• Negative self talk

• Downward spiral

• Vicious cycle

It’s a strategic tool for you to:

• Plan ahead

• Build good habits

• Build consistency

• Envision your future

The power isn’t just in saying “I can”.

It’s believing it and acting on it.

You don’t have to design a complex system, or do a 360-degree turn of your life immediately.

Start with a small mindset shift.

A tiny one that has a massive impact.

You don’t need to change everything at once.

Just change one thing.

Believe in the power of taking action.

"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take action with this step-by-step guide.

Step 1 - List your “I can’t, yet” items

Grab a pen, or type out a list of every “I can’t” that comes to mind.

Whatever is on that list, don’t beat yourself up for it.

This is about awareness.

Where in your life do you feel most limited?

The list gives you clarity on the areas you most wish to improve.

Step 2 - Reframe each statement

Take each “I can’t” and flip it.

Ask yourself, “What if I could?” and then write down the new “I can” statement.

Here’s some of my list items.

• “I can’t write every day.”

• “I can’t generate 20 ideas a day.”

• “I’m too busy, I can’t make time to work on my online business.”

Maybe you wrote something like “I can’t start my own business.”

Reframe it to, “I can start my own business by learning the necessary skills.”

Keep going down the list and reframe your “I can’t” items.

Step 3 - Implement daily affirmations

Daily affirmations are powerful tools that rewire your brain for success.

Every time you repeat an affirmation, you're reinforcing a belief.

This practice shifts your mindset, transforming doubts into confidence and inertia into action.

It’s like training a muscle.

The more you affirm what you want, the stronger your belief in it becomes.

And when your mind truly believes, your actions naturally align with that belief.

Start your day by repeating your new “I can” statements.

It might feel awkward at first, but stick with it.

Over time, the real change happens.

Step 4 - Take Small Actions

Now, put your words into action.

Pick one small step that aligns with your “I can” statement and do it today.

Take my example of “I can’t generate 20 ideas a day.”

My first small action was to read a few blog posts a day and try to get one idea from it.

That’s it.  

Sometimes I read 5 or 6 posts without lighting up anything in my brain.

But another day, I read 1 post and I get a few ideas.

But the more I read, the faster the ideas come.

That’s the beauty of it.

Your skills stack up over time.  

The key is momentum.

Start small, and let the wins build.

Step 5 - Stay Consistent

Consistency is the glue that holds this all together.

You didn’t develop the habit of saying “I can’t” overnight.

You won’t break it overnight either.

4 ways to stay consistent

1. The power of repetition with the daily affirmations.

2. Stay accountable with a group of friends, or use tools like habit tracker or journals to help.

3. Daily progress tracking to document your journey of wins.

4. Celebrate when your I can’t transform into I can.

Embrace this shift from “I can’t” to “I can’t, yet”.

You’re not just changing a word—you’re changing your life.

The journey starts with one small step, but the destination is a life where you no longer limit yourself.

The next time you hear that voice saying, “I can’t,”

Let it become “I can’t, yet”, until you could finally say “I can.”

Thanks for reading.