by Katy Carnaggio
Sometimes, the only thing standing between you and your best performance is asking, “What if I could?”
Each day, we carry assumptions about what we can and can’t do, often shaped by past performances, insecurities, or judgments. These thoughts can quietly hold us back, keeping us in a box of “I’ve never done that before” or “I’ve never been great at that.” But what if you flipped the script?
Each day, separate yourself from your memories and judgments about who you are, the sounds you make, or what you can do. Instead, look to the part of you that simply can. Ask yourself, “What if I could? And if I could, how would I?” What would that look and feel like today?
- If I could play with a massive, ringing sound, what would I do to create that?
- If I could stay cool, calm, and collected under pressure, what would I do in that moment?
We often have such fixed ideas of what our abilities should be that we become disconnected from what they could be. But when you assume, today, that anything is possible—that you can—you start finding ways to make that assumption true.
And if you can train yourself to walk closer and closer toward that person who can, where you are matters far less than where you’re headed. Direction is more important than location. So, choose a direction and walk towards the you that can!