When people say you can’t do it: This quote beautifully portrays the reliance on yourself and conviction. People have multiple reasons or experiences to say that you can’t do something. Everything need not be true and it barely is. In this article, we will talk about the meaning and shortcomings of people telling you that you can’t do something.
It is a deeply personal journey and only you will be able to determine whether you can do something or not. But I’m sure you’ll hear both solicited and unsolicited advice all along the way. Let’s try and explore a little more about what people mean when they say that you can’t do something.
When people say you can’t do it – Meaning
I don’t think people realise how powerful it is when they say you can’t do something. I’ve often found myself falling into the trap of trying to please people. Each time I’ve done this, I find a sense of hatred within myself. Even with that, I’d have failed to please everyone. As much as everyone says be yourself, there are numerous people who will try to pull you down.
Let’s take this quote for instance – what does it mean when people say you can’t do it? Pause and think about it for a minute. How can it be true? And what qualifies them to judge whether you can do something or not. Isn’t there a huge bias the moment they judge something about you? Perhaps that’s why I feel we have to be very careful about the type of people we share our stories with. Not everyone deserves so much power over their life. Your decisions are only yours and no one else has a say in them!
Just because they couldn’t do it
Each of our journeys and stories are different. It is impossible to say just because something doesn’t work for me, it won’t work for you. Sure, we can give our own personal experience as a reference. But it would be foolish to think that it will work the same way for you. In this case, just because I failed in something, doesn’t mean that you’d fail too.
The best you might be able to do is learn from my failures and use the right strategy to move ahead. If someone tells you to forecast your life based on someone else’s experience, can there be anything stupider than that? It is the same logic if someone asks you to quit college because Steve Jobs did and turned out great!
Doesn’t mean you can’t do it
This is really at the heart of this quote by David Copperfield – we all have different abilities. They may look similar but they’re not the same. You’ve got your own magic, dreams, passion and potential. It will need work, but the idea of comparing yourself to someone else is even repulsive. It is a major disrespect to who you are as an individual.
Most important point to remember is that when you ask for advice – make sure that you ask specific questions. Keep the scope limited to how you can get to something. Don’t ask someone’s opinion on whether you should do something or not. It is a pointless waste of time!
When people say you can’t do it, that it is impossible, never lose hope. Just because they couldn’t do it doesn’t mean you can’t
David Copperfield
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reading your post put a smile on my face as the situation you have described is so familar. Sometimes I wish I could just wave my magic wand and say “legilimens” (Allows the caster to delve into the mind of the victim)(am a harry potter nut!), would be so much easier to deal with people!! But in the end I guess its all upto us in taking that one big step towards what we believe and what we want to do. I have the same confusions regarding what people mean when they say something…discussed that in my post “a dictionary of alternate meanings”.
Off the record, the line “being very aware of what we are asking cos in the end we might end up getting what we ask for!” reminded me of the movie wishmaster(1997, must mention had 3 sequals) :)
Thank you Preethi for such a lovely response on the article :) . Ha ha you being a HP fan really shows :).
Dictionary of alternate meanings! That sounds very interesting! Could you please pass me a link to that, I am trying to search but with no avail :( ..
Oh really?! I must watch that movie then! Is it a movie you’d recommend?
Cheers,
V
i think .. we should start fresh .. even suggestions at times demoralize .. they set limitations alongwith guidance .. weave your own path be the boss .. of what you wish to do .. !! Nice post BTW!
Thank you matey :).. Yeaaaa fair point my friend. They do have a certain point sometimes. But people have so manu that it becomes quite hard to identify what’s in the right light !!
Nan case nalli most of the times, ‘u can’t do it’ andre, ‘it was too hard for me, it is going to be hard for u too’. But, elderly people like my grandfather etc – ‘It is a question of one’s ego’. All 3 of my sons went to US and did MS, she is a girl and will she also go to US and do MS ??!! NO NO, NEVER, asambhav :P I guess in the end, just shut off your ears and do what u want :P asht-ashte …
Lol!! ashte ashte!! They don’t know who they are messing with! The mighty, the indomitable, the tenacious, the resolute Rajeshwari :)
Hehe :P ashtond scene illa biDu :P nice article :-) heege chennagi bari geLeya! :-)
He he .. Thankooo :) .. Barita irtini, Nim support idmele bartaane irtini gelati :)
inspiring :) have heard such things a lot..its more fun to prove people wrong :) ;)
He he oh yea it’s one of the most fun things on the face of the planet ;) :)
Sometimes, we fail to do things since some one says it’s impossible to do them. Possible or impossible is only a mind-set. We can get over with anything if we have what’s called the ‘will power.’
Very inspirational quote.
Thank you Easwar. I love this statement of yours – possible or impossible is only a mindset ! Very powerful :)
Sounds like a great inspiration on a monday morning…
Thank you Sugandha :).. Trying to beat the Monday blues ;)