What If I Could? Seeing Possibilities Over Limitations
Every day, I watch my students unlock the craziest arm balances and inversions at Yogi Flight School. They go from “WTF, that’s absurd” to “I just did that!”, and it’s incredible to witness. Sure, I give them the step-by-step technique to make these seemingly impossible poses accessible for everybody and every-body, but let’s go deeper:
The real superpower that turns the impossible into possible is the right mindset.
The Power of Mindset
Mindset is everything. The way you think determines what you believe, how you show up, and ultimately, what you achieve.
Too often, I hear people say, “I can’t do that.” “That’s too hard for me.” And all I see is them wasting energy complaining about their obstacles instead of fighting for their possibilities. It’s like standing in front of a tree branch blocking your jogging path, complaining that your cardio session is ruined, without realizing you could simply step around the tree branch and onto the wet grass, feel uncomfortable for a second, and keep moving forward.
This isn’t just about arm balances or inversions. How you do one thing is how you do everything.
If you see insurmountable roadblocks in your yoga practice, chances are, you see them everywhere else, too. But what if you started looking for possibilities instead?
Acknowledge That Life is Hard.
Let’s be real: life isn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Some days, you wake up expecting a smooth ride, only to find yourself catapulted into a full-blown Jumanji scenario, dodging obstacles left and right, and sometimes, even being chased by them!
So, let’s not pretend limitations don’t exist. Ignoring them only sets you up for disappointment when things don’t go as planned. What truly matters is how you navigate those challenges. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it (Charles Swindoll).
Do you see the glass half full or half empty? Or better yet, are you excited that you even have a glass to fill?
See the possibilities.
Success, on the mat and in life, has little to do with IQ or natural talent. It’s about attitude. It’s about choosing to see obstacles as opportunities to level up.
When external factors create limitations, you have two choices:
- Accept the challenge to find a way around your obstacles, and fight for your goals.
- Quit.
Quitting is always the easiest option, but it’s also the one that guarantees zero progress. If you want to break through your limitations, you have to train your mind to see possibilities where others see dead ends. You need to envision what’s behind the wall and understand that the fight is worth it.
That’s the difference between those who take flight and those who stay grounded in self-doubt.
Focus Your Energy.
Where your mind goes, your energy flows.
So, where are you focusing your energy? On what’s holding you back, or on the possibility of growth? If you ever doubt yourself, take a moment to look back. Think about a time when you were brave, when you took a leap, when you defied the odds. Everything you’ve accomplished in life happened because you saw possibilities, not limitations.
What If You Could?
The next time you catch yourself saying, “I can’t,” pause.
Ask yourself:
- What if I could?
- Can I find a way around this?
- If not, can I break my big goal into smaller steps so I can continue to move forward?
Because the truth is, you are capable of far more than you believe, if only you’re willing to see the possibilities and go after them.
