Written by Anthony Meindl
C A N ’ T.
That’s a dirty 4-letter word we use more often than we realize.
Sometimes it’s subtle and shows up in the form of defensiveness, rationalization, saying “no” to things, giving up, accepting defeat.
And sometimes we simply just say it overtly: I can’t do it.
Yes, you can.
The true spirit of who each of us is – the part of us beyond our ego (which tells us we can’t) – is indestructible, powerful beyond measure, incapable of being defeated by resistance, fear and “can’t.”
Before we grew up and started listening to the limitations placed on us by our pseudo (ego) self, we believed that we could do it all.
And we could. And still can. Like children.
They commit to the reality of their imaginary micro-worlds (whether it’s exploring outer space, or playing Samurai swords on an ancient Chinese battlefield or pretending they’re trapped in the Jurassic Period hiding from dinosaurs).
They can because they think they can. Or rather, their commitment to what they think they can do is what allows them to do it.
That spirit of who you are hasn’t left you merely because you’re now approaching 30, have gained 10 pounds, have grey hair, can’t do a back-bend anymore or fit into your favorite jeans from 1988.
Our ability to change the way we see our world is – scientifically – available to us. It just requires us to change the paradigms that we have become accustomed to using to get by in the world.
Or as author, Marianne Williamson, says, “Children aren’t bored when they wake up in the morning because they don’t know what’s going to happen to them that day. Adults are bored because we think we do.”
This is a good reminder of how we often preempt the moment because we think we know the conclusion to something before we’ve actually experienced it.
Stay open. Shift your perspective. See events through the innocent eyes of the child that you still are.
Anthony Meindl is an award-winning writer, producer, director and actor whose first feature screenplay, THE WONDER GIRLS, was the Grand Prize Winning Feature Screenplay in the Slamdance Film Festival Screenplay Competition in 2007. Prior to this accomplishment, Meindl was responsible for the production of an array of award-winning projects. His background in acting, training, and performance has afforded him the opportunity to create what has become a thriving artist community in Los Angeles.
Check out Anthony’s book, At Left Brain, Right Turn
