"Whether you think you can or think you can't - You're right"

'Whether you think you can or think you can't - you're right.'

Most of us have heard this quote from Henry Ford.

Most of us understand the logic of how our thoughts, attitudes, and opinions about something can produce those results. That if we believe in something to be true, even if in reality it may not be, that we can make it true for OURSELVES. This could be a positive or a negative of course...

Some call it manifesting, others call it confirmation bias.

Well...here's the rub...

Understanding what direction to go and why we should go it VS actually heading in that direction is the real challenge for most of us.

Personally, this one is quite big for me. Often, I am catching myself in a self-limiting belief that I have to put in work to shift.

Let me share a story...

I once competed in the sport of powerlifting. The goal being to see who can lift the heaviest load, typically in the back squat, bench press, and deadlift. A famous phrase around gyms in the powerlifting world is how the bar doesn't lie. What this means is... you either have the strength to lift the bar or you don't. You can't lie to yourself about being strong enough to lift the bar...

Or can you?

I was going in for a deadlift attempt at 515lbs for my 2nd attempt. A rather lofty attempt, something I had never hit in training. I put in a years' worth of work prior to get myself as capable as I could, I made it process.

But...we know how results go...

Prior to that lift I let my nerves get the best of me. I had a little doubt right before I pulled it. I got the lift up to below my kneecap and couldn't stand it up.

I failed the attempt.

I didn't think I could make the lift and I proved myself right. I manifested it. If I had any new evidence of me being able to make the lift right before I wouldn't have believed it (conformation bias).

Here is where the bar sometimes lies though...

A deadlift isn't the most technical lift ever, yeah it requires plenty of it, but I didn't miss the lift due to that. I missed the lift due to my belief before it. My 3rd attempt I believed in myself. For whatever reason when I walked into the back after my 2nd attempt, I had a thought of... 'I can make that lift'... and carried that all the way to the result. My 3rd attempt about 20 minutes later was a success. Even if I had missed the 3rd attempt, I would have believed in myself enough to attempt it again and a miss could then just mean more process...more training to get stronger.

You can take this example and apply it nearly anywhere you want.

If we think we don't have time... we don't. If we think we can make time... we will.

If we think we don't have what it takes... we don't. If we believe in ourselves... we do.

If that particular group is the problem... they are. If we seek to empathize and understand... maybe there is more to the story.

I think the point is clear...

My challenge to you and to myself is this... put in the mental work. More than you do any amount of physical work. If you find yourself down these rabbit holes of self-limiting beliefs, reach out to someone. Let's chat. I would love to listen.

For those of you that want a tool...

Journal your self-limiting beliefs and then offer yourself ways that they aren't true. Imagine what process is in your control to drive a new result. Then focus on that process alone. It takes time to get strong... this is true here also.

Give yourself some grace.

Keep going.

Coach D.