“If my mind can be structured for failure, then it can also be structured for success.” -
Dearest Friends Who Make Up This Quirky Soul Tribe of Ours,
You know me - I'm no stranger to those pesky inner voices creeping in with their chorus of, "I can't do this" or "I'm not ready yet."
Even now on this wobbly journey of mine called LIFE...especially when I'm staring down something new and more than a little freaky.
Sound familiar at all?
But here's what I'm constantly learning: Sometimes a gentle shift in mindset is all we need to scatter those demons of self-doubt.
Erwin Raphael McManus says it perfectly:
“We almost pursue our dreams. We almost make the decision that changes everything. We are always one choice away. If we want to live without regret, we need to make a mind shift--trading beliefs that limit our potential for ones that help us move toward optimal performance and pursue the success of being fully alive.”
So let's talk about the unexpected superpower nestled inside a tiny three-letter word: Y-E-T.
As that trailblazer Carol Dweck reminds us, "yet" sparks a growth mindset, the belief that we're ever-unfolding works in progress.
When we tack on this little word to the pesky inner voices ("I can't do it"...YET!), it makes space for possibility.
Scare Your Soul Challenge of the Week: Add “Yet” to your Vocabulary
I don't know about you, but I could use a little more hope these days, along with dreaming bigger about what I might be capable of. Maybe you could too?
Either way, I say we sprinkle more "yet" into our days this week...speak it out loud, draw it, sing it.
Notice how it shifts things inside us. Little by little, "yet" helps edge our minds towards courage over fear.
“I’m not good enough” transforms into “I’m not good enough… YET.”
“I don’t know how to do it” becomes a hopeful “I don’t know how to do it… YET.”
“I’m not capable of that” turns into the promising “I’m not capable of that… YET.”
Tania’s Story
Another courage success story submitted to Scare Your Soul.
“Dan and I were recently in Dubai and The Maldives on our honeymoon.
While at Atlantis Dubai, Dan wanted to scuba dive in the aquarium. Never having done it, I wanted to try it and create this new memory with him. How cool would it be to experience something new!
But I was terrified.
Being underwater feels claustrophobic.
What if I don’t breathe correctly? What if I suffocate? What if I get cold and my muscles stiffen? What if I don’t make it back to the top? Is it irresponsible of me? I love my kids and want to get back home safely to them. Is my instinct protecting me? I shouldn’t silence it!
Or is fear holding me back from experiencing something new??
I was shortcircuiting from overanalyzing. I didn’t sleep well the night leading up to the dive, tormented between my “instinct” and my desire to override my fear. I said extra prayers as I spun out of control with analysis paralysis.
But I decided to do it.
Dive time arrived. Dan and the other divers went down with zero hesitation. I stepped into the shallow side of the tank and spent 20 of my 30-minute dive freaking out, questioning my instructor, inquiring about risks and incidents of injury.
But I finally did it!!!!!
And my GREATEST motivator was that I didn’t want to return home and live with the regret that I missed out on the experience because I allowed fear to take over.
And oh what an incredible experience it was!
Five days later, we were in the Maldives. We decided to scuba dive in open water. And once again, I found myself struggling with fear and trying to find every excuse to back out. If you could only hear the complex monologue in my own head! lol! “I dove already in Dubai, I don’t need to do it here. I have nothing to prove…Yes, but that was in a tank. This is open water. Stop looking for excuses. Damn it”…
I once again chose to silence the fear infiltrating every cell in my body. And oh what an exhilarating and unforgettable experience it was!!!!!
Once underwater, I found myself in a meditative state, hearing my deep, rhythmic inhales and the bubbles as I exhaled. I was lost and in awe of the beauty of the marine life that surrounded me. I was peaceful, inspired, excited, rejuvenated, humbled, empowered, mesmerized, and grateful.
As beautiful as scuba diving was, the experience was heightened exponentially recognizing that I scared my soul and found the courage to push through and discover a world I had never experienced before…”
As Tania's journey illustrates, embracing a mindset shift can lead us to amazing breakthroughs. This week, I invite you to sprinkle more "yet" into your self-talk and notice how it shifts your courage.
We’re all works in progress, growing bolder and brighter.
Onward with gusto!
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Wherever you are on your journey, thank you for being part of this community. Our stories make up a beautiful tapestry of growth.