I know you say it all the time.

“I can’t”

Go on, admit it… We all do, don’t we.can't or won't

I can’t sing

I can’t solve that problem

I can’t meet so-and-so on Friday

I can’t write that blog post today (this one is totally me!)

But I challenge you to really think about that. Is it really that you “can’t” do it?

Or more like, you “won’t” do it?

Be honest now. Because for the most part, when you say “can’t”, you really mean “won’t”. In truth, what you are doing is making a choice

not to sing (or learn how to properly)

not to solve that problem

not to meet that person on Friday

not to write that blog post today

My grandfather passed away recently. This post is inspired by him. Because one of my abiding memories is of him telling me, as a very young child:

“There’s no such thing as ‘can’t’, it’s ‘won’t'”

I didn’t really understand it then. I do now. I choose. It’s not that I can’t do something, I choose not to. For whatever reason.

Next time you say “I can’t”, I challenge you to really consider that. Is it really true? Or are you making a choice?