As we go through this life, we are met with adversity and challenges along the way. How we face that adversity and how we overcome those obstacles help to shape our character, our experiences, and our achievements.
We all wear certain labels that could easily be assigned blame for why we cannot do this or that. Those labels might be woman, Jew, mother, grandmother, plain, gorgeous, short, or tall. You may think you can’t do something because of a particular label.
- You can’t run a marathon. You’re a grandmother!
- You can’t join an elite military group. You’re a woman!
- You can’t play basketball. You’re too short!
- You can’t be that smart. You’re too gorgeous!
You get the idea.
In my life, my mantra has always been, “ Don’t tell me I cannot do it!” Time and again I have proven that I am the little engine that could. I flexed my muscles of ability to earn my PhD while married with two children. Lots of people thought I couldn’t or shouldn’t do it, but I knew I could!
When I entered the military service in Israel, my goal was to be in the Israeli Air Force, the most prestigious division of the armed forces. People said I couldn’t do it because it is very hard to get in and everybody wants to end up there. I knew I could and I did!
When I was a young woman, I worked two jobs and took night classes in order to get my high school diploma. People thought I was wasting my time because a high school education was not really valued then. People thought I shouldn’t do it. But I knew I should and I knew I could!
Don’t let other people decide what you can or cannot do. Only you know your true potential and only you can decide what you can accomplish. With determination and focus there is nothing you cannot do!
Train for that marathon! Open that business! Don’t waste another moment selling yourself short because of someone else’s perception of your abilities. Discard those labels and accomplish anything you put your mind to.
What have you set out to do that people said you couldn’t do? What are you going to start doing today that someone said you couldn’t?
-Dr. Erica Miller