“Yes, I will!” trumps “I plan to” or “Yes I can” when it comes to taking ACTION for success.
Think about it.
Dig in and find any challenging goal, right now.
Something that presents itself to you without much thought. You know what I mean.
For example, take the goal of doing your workout schedule this week. Hopefully, you’ve planned something that takes minimal time for maximum results and has flexibility built into it, due to the always-present human predicament of the unpredictable happening.
Now, out load, say “Yes, I can do my workout schedule this week”. Yes, an important statement. You’ve established your capability.
Now, say THIS out loud:
“Yes, I WILL do my workout schedule this week”.
Feel the difference?
One is of them has an “I’ll try” feel to it. Wiggle room.
The other has an vested commitment. Solid.
I’m betting my bottom dollar on “I will” getting you a heck of a lot closer to your goals when you add it to “I can”.
This is on my mind today as wild circumstances have been swirling all around me.
- A close, aging relative is in serious condition in the hospital.
- My web server had problems in the middle of some important business projects.
- The roofer arrived to repair the roof leak. Shall I go on?
Here’s the thing.
Though it took extra resolve to follow through on my workout plans and being prepared with healthy, energizing eats today, to NOT do so would have made these circumstances far more difficult to manage. It’s easy to say “just this time…there’s too much stress to eat right!”, or “I don’t have time to get in a workout!”
But in most cases, neither of these statements are true.
Nor are they in your best interest. You will be more resilient, better able to face even the most unpleasant of circumstances and tasks, and of better service to not only yourself but those around you as well when you take care of your health and energy needs. That’s what wellness is all about.
In other words, put the oxygen mask on first. Then you can breathe. And have the vitality to be up to the tasks. And be of service.
Are you an “I can” or an “I will” person?
You can learn to become an “I will” person. This doesn’t mean you’ll get the oxygen mask on in time each and every time. But trust me, it’ll happen a lot more often than if you are rallying around in “I can” territory.
The Bigger Picture
Extend this same idea to another endeavor in your life. Give it the “I can” vs. the “I will” test. See if you don’t experience a shift in energy.
Spare Me The Yabutz
“Yeah, but what if….”
Hey, don’t go there. If something comes up and you absolutely need to change your plan, and it will from time to time, then you just do what you need to do.
But without the foundation of “I will”, the change in plans can happen just often enough to destroy your dreams.
Challenge: take just one thing that you have been “can-ning”, and turn it into a “will” statement. Watch what happens.
© Lani Muelrath 2010 image: prospurring
Well, when you put it like that…
It sure does shift the perspective. I’ve been thinking about this in terms of changing some things about my business. Just going through the “will” and “can” activity have helped me see how I may have been stopping myself. Lots of food for thought. Thanks Lani!
I did get an evening hike with the dog in each day so I wasn’t a total slug. Once each year, our church delivers Meals On Wheels and I was a driver last week. I’m new to T-Tapping and have found that it works best to get my workout in before lunch. I just don’t seem to have enough energy later. Great suggestion about getting parts of it in…I have the TappCore and could (no will) begin incorporating those throughout my day.
Another subject, but I watched your video regarding eating trips for travel. I’d love some suggestions for a plane trip and two night hotel stay where I won’t have a car.
Thanks Lani.
Lani,
Interesting to find your post. I have had little thyroid activity for 20 years, and took pills for it for one bottle only as that was all the insurance I had at the time. Have not taken anything for it since. And the last 6-7 years have seen menopause come on. After losing a job 3 years ago, lasting employment has been a dream (ageism) and mood related issues to that have set in. I can’t remember what it was like to have energy, much having my body know how to lose weight like it did for the last time 7 years ago. No resiliency to jump back. I’ve become used to this down situation. And since doctor;s lab tests are wrong anyway, why go to them? Seems like a remaining lifetime of only remembering what any energetic life was like. I can’t think of a more hellish nightmare than to be tied for the rest of life to pills.
Helen, thank you for stopping by. Sounds like a steep set of challenges. You may be interested to research some of the commentary by Dr. McDougall, M.D. One of the things I like about Doc McD is his commitment to meds as a last resort, yet the sense to utilize where medically necessary. I did a quick search of his deeply archived arcticles and found this reference to thyroid which may be of interest to you: http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl/december/thyroid.htm
Wow Lani, I’m so glad I checked your site this morning. My doctor has been watching my elevated TSH level for the past year and I’ve been extremely resistant to beginning any medication. I don’t even put synthetics on my skin and never touch pork or animal organ products. However, after reading Dr. McDougal’s opinion, I’m going to reconsider. This morning I go for bloodwork and next Thursday is my annual physical.
Thanks for all your efforts to improve our lives, Lani.
Isn’t it great how when when person posts, it benefits another?
You are wise to avoid the animal products. To pull directly from Dr. McDougall’ report to which you refer:
“Animal Extracts May Not Be Safe
One potential problem that has received no serious investigation is the risk of contracting infection from consuming glandular tissues in pill-form. Much work has been done showing animal-borne microbes can be spread to people by eating animals as food16,17—and there is every reason to believe the same can occur when dried animal tissues sold as medications are consumed. Cancer, including leukemia, viruses and AIDS-like viruses are commonly found in cows and pigs.18-,19 These viruses are known to infect people.20 Could these supplements be an unintended media for the spread of prion-based brain diseases, like mad cow disease? There are many reasons to believe that this is a real risk.21,22
The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has recently been found in pig populations.23 History may be repeating itself. The deadly human influenza virus of 1918 that killed more than 20 million people worldwide was a mutation of a swine flu virus that evolved from American pigs and was spread around the world by US troops.24
Since there has been essentially no effort by the livestock industry in most (but not all) countries to clean up their animals, hundreds of different kinds of infectious microbes are being consumed by billions of people. Therefore, to protect yourself and family there is every good reason to not eat these animals and their byproducts, including glandular extracts, like “natural” thyroid extract.”
Lani
Hi Lani,
You are absolutely right about saying”I will” instead of “Ican”. I have put those words to use since my knee surgery and have lost 35# and 3 dress sizes.
The added bonus are the Fit Quickies which allows me the opportunity to do my workouts without taking a lot of time to do so, and the results have been amazing.
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us and helping us to be more healthy in the process.
Maggie
Ooh, Maggie, if that isn’t a testimony to the power of “I will”! What changed the tide for you?
And I’m thrilled that the Fit Quickies are just what your body shaping and fit doc ordered. Excellent!
Thanks so much for your post today,
Lani
After surgery, while in the hospital initially I lost15#, when I got home I said I don’t want to gain this back, so that is when I said “I will” do this. Surprisingly it has not been as difficult as it has bee in the past. Just a different mind set I guess. It is so nice to put on clothes that have hung in my closet for years and see how nice they look. I am going to go through my closet and purge all of the larger sizes.
Maggie
Lani – you are so very right, I feel so much power in saying I will – instead of I can (as if it is an option) – there is a feeling of full and total commitment with the phrase “I WILL accomplish this goal!)” and not the wimpiness of can. Thank you!
“I can” has never been a part of my vocabulary. “I will” is a phrase I use in commiting to others and for myself when I am overcoming a really tough habit or routine that is not healthy. My weakness is not using this phrase on a regular basis; when this happens – I am either not serious about the change (big tipoff) or not clear about what the next step should be.
I have to remind myself that my commitments to myself must be more important than always putting others first (old habit…).
Great article!
Janis
Hey Janis, I like how you take the words “I will” seriously. Saying them is like a firm commit to yourself.
Speaking of commitments, I’m so excited that you will be guest speaking on our first WFB call – we’re pumped! 😉
Lani
Great news – my TSH level is back within the normal range and I won’t have to begin any medication at this time – hopefully forever. I’ve been taking Magnascent Iodine and Selenium which my doctor would not endorse and feel that contributed greatly along with avoiding all known sources of halides in my diet and especially avoiding fluoride.
Wow Donnella this is great news. Nice work and thanks for coming by to share!
Lani
omg Lani, this couldn’t have come at a better time. How did you know?
I’ve been really unclear on commitment to changes in my diet. This post really hit home. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I will.
Lise
Lise, I’m thrilled that this has inspired you today. It was challenging to write because it feels very personal today with family affairs and the accompanying challenges and decisions. But if not today, when to put this up? I appreciate your response, it means a lot that you connected right away!
Thanks so much,
Lani
Good timing! In the past few days I’ve become more committed to my fitness goals, and saying “I will” instead of “I plan” has a much larger impact to me. If I simply plan to… well, life gets in the way. Always. But saying “I will” to myself means I really make the commitment to do what is needed.
You’re right, life can get in the way. Each and every time, we can count on it. Sometimes we just have to work with it, but more often than not we do have a choice. Thank you for your thoughts!
Lani
Thanks Lani. I missed an entire week of working out last week because I was doing volunteer work during my workout time. I’m so glad to be back on track today and will certainly change my self-talk from “I’ll try” to “I will”.
Donnella, d’oh! Too bad brownie points don’t give us exercise credit! What was your volunteer work, if I might ask? I guess we just have to move our workout time around sometimes. A good solution is quick bites of it during the day, which is a great alternative when needed!
Thanks so much for you post,
Lani
To me there are three things that have to come together – willingness, ability and interest. Yes I can relates to capability and if you are filled with defeat, it’s just the thing. If you have the capability but no interest – hmmmm then “I will” doesn’t quite make sense either. So I will (to me) works at the intersection of ability, willingness and interest – and indeed it is a powerful statement!
Heady stuff! Capability = can, I agree. Commitment – “will”. Commitment trumps “interest” when it comes to achieving. Love what you say about “intersection” – thank you!
Lani