I can't believe that August is almost over! I am taking the week off and re-posting a newsletter from 2018. We always need a reminder to believe in ourselves!
Enjoy!!
This past week I found myself thinking about the children’s story “The Little Engine That Could“ by Watty Piper. I was thinking about it so much that I had to search YouTube, to listen to the story.
I have to admit I don't recall reading the story or of it being read to me when I was growing up. What I do recall is a train that was attempting to get up a steep and long hill and it kept repeating to itself “I think I can, I think I can”.
Do you recall the story? To summarize, a train was delivering toys and food to children on the other side of a mountain. She got to a point where she couldn’t go any further and needed assistance. Three other trains, a passenger train, a freight engine, a rusty old engine, came by and would not help the train get over the mountain. A fourth train came by, a little blue engine, who decided to assist and pull the train over the mountain. We know what happens with the little blue engine. She thought she could, she thought she could and...she did!
So what lessons did I take away from listening to the story with my adult ears?
Lesson One: "Don’t stop asking" When assistance is requested not everyone will be gracious enough to oblige. However, don’t give up on your requests. Those ‘No’s are leading you closer to that
‘Yes’.
Lesson Two: "Don’t focus on How" Don’t focus on the specifics of how your request will be answered. You will receive assistance from the most unexpected people/places. Lesson Three: "How we define ourselves,('our story') can help us or hold us back" The three trains that did not assist, each had their own story. The passenger train believed that is was very important; the freight engine very powerful; the old rusty train, too weary to lend a hand. The little blue train had doubts but told herself ”I think I can”.
How does this relate to us?
We each create a 'story' that defines what we believe we are capable
of. Our Story is shaped by our life circumstances, family history, and our environment. We live by the story we keep repeating to ourselves.
What story are you telling yourself? How is it guiding your actions? Each train based on its ‘history’--- it’s purpose and function, characterized itself as
powerful, important or weary. These beliefs guided their actions.
Meeting with clients I have the opportunity to hear many stories. Some of the phrases that I hear are:
I am good at starting but not finishing
I’m too old to make any changes
I’ve never been an active person
I am afraid of committing
I am just not good with money
I can’t afford to...
I am not good at managing my time
I was never good in school
I don’t have the qualifications
I have never been that adventurous/brave/’crazy”
Insert anything else you tell yourself here
There are
as many stories as there are people. We all have A Story. The question becomes how are we using these stories? To move forward or are hold us back? Ultimately, only you can decide.
If you feel you are being held back, there is good news! You can re-write your Story! We create our story and we can re-create it. We choose the areas of our history that we highlight and focus on, so why not focus on those aspects in our life where we have demonstrated competence. If you identify something you really want to accomplish or achieve-run/walk a 5K, go for a promotion; take a yoga class; move across the country; get a driver’s license; go back to school; improve a relationship; start a new relationship--- Whatever it is, you can always find several chapters in your story that will justify why you can’t. You only need to find one good chapter or even a sentence that encourages you to pursue it. Let’s start changing the manuscript.
Start priming the pump:
Give yourself permission to change your story
Focus on accomplishments in all areas of your life
Focus on the positive aspects of any situation
Commit to telling a different story
Focus on the reason you wanted to achieve the desire. Your subconscious knows that you can or else you wouldn’t have had the thought in the first place.
"What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve." ~Napolean Hill
There will be mountains and valleys to test your resolve but keep chugging along--- “I think I can”.
Garner support and keep repeating, “I think I can”. Ask for assistance when needed and keep repeating, “I think I can”. Eventually, you will arrive at your destination, proud, and asking yourself, “Did I do that?” Your response will be “Yes, I did because I believed I could!”
You are welcome to connect with me if you would like some support around re-writing your story so that you can think and believe in the best of you!
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with someone you think may find it valuable.
Stay safe. Stay well! ~Nancy
Nancy Smith Vibrant You Coaching "Faith, Focus, Finish"
