Do The Thing You Think You Cannot Do

From February 25, 2005

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

I found this quote as I often do with things that make me think—by mistake. I was thumbing through a junk-mail-order catalog on its way to the trash when this quote jumped out at me from one page. It caught my eye because I was just wondering how in the world I was going to find the time to do all that I had committed myself to do, and this quote gave me new resolve to ‘stay the course’ and not give in to discouragement or despair. It reminded me of another great quote:

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” I know this to be true from my own experiences. There have been so many times in my life when I have been tempted to avoid doing something because I didn’t know how it would turn out, or because it was too hard, or I just didn’t feel ‘up’ to it… Some of those times, I am ashamed to say, I bailed out and found some reason why I ‘couldn’t’ do it. But now I know that some of my best experiences in life are those from which I force myself to face the doubt and push on.

Eleanor Roosevelt is the woman who gave us both of these quotes. She overcame adversity and faced deep, personal sorrow and heartbreak, and still became one of the most influential women of all time. History is filled with people like this who were driven by one thing or another that led them down the particular pat they chose. Yet there are those out there who will say that these people are flawed in their personalities—perhaps because they are unable to relate or understand. Perhaps it is that ‘flawed’ part of their personality that makes them stand out—indeed, they are not ‘normal’, they are special. And we should be grateful, for without the movers and shakers of the world, where would we be?

I am not a mover or a shaker, and I don’t see myself any more special than the next person. But I believe that each of us has our own unique reason for being here at this particular time. Each of us is special in our own way with unique talents, and personality traits. Sometimes, things in life are hard. Sometimes we have to do things we would really rather not do. But I say, keep pushing on. “Do the thing you think you cannot do.” Face your doubts and your fear and press forward.

I have often said, learn from your life and live. I hope you will not give up your dreams, that you will work on them despite what others may think or say—have faith in yourself and stay the course.