I've got something I’d love to show you. It's a simple trick to change your view about yourself and what you can do. It involves only adding the word “yet” to your thoughts. This single, small word can alter your perspective and create new opportunities.
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Let me tell you how it works:
Sometimes we say things like “I’m not good at this” or “I can’t do that.” Such ideas make us feel stagnant and unable to develop ourselves further. However, if we attach an extra word “yet,” they start looking more positive all of a sudden. Instead of saying “I can’t do this” try saying “I can’t do this yet”.
See? You want to show that you haven’t reached there but are on the way.
Carol Dweck has come up with the concept that some individuals believe that their talents may be developed. They don’t see their abilities as fixed entities. Rather, they think they are capable of making progress through hard work and practice. The belief is called a growth mindset. It contradicts the fixed mindset where people perceive their abilities as being cast in stone. A growth mindset is expressed when we use the term ‘yet’ in our thoughts.
Have you ever considered the kind of words you use when having an internal dialogue?
How you perceive your abilities is greatly influenced by them. If you tell yourself that you are not good at something, this might make you think so and quit trying altogether. However, the inclusion of the term “yet” serves as a reminder that learning and improvement are possible. This is a subtle change but it can create a huge impact.
Let me give an example to illustrate this better:
Just suppose that you are attempting to learn how to play guitar. The skill level seems beyond your capacities and there’s no hope for getting it right. Instead of saying, “I cannot play guitar,” why not say instead, “I cannot play guitar yet.” Here, one admits that learning will take time and requires effort from the individuals themselves. You do not get discouraged but understand that at present you still can’t.
This tip is helpful in any situation where knowledge acquisition or skills improvement is required. Perhaps it is also difficult for some individuals with math, cooking, or even a hobby they have recently picked up on. Your thoughts should contain the word “yet” because it helps maintain motivation towards learning something new. It reminds people that everyone was once an amateur in something hence no reason to worry if things don’t go perfectly immediately after starting out
If you catch yourself thinking you cannot do something next time, then remember to say “yet.” This small alteration may have a significant impact on your state of mind.
