You can't do that!

How many times do you remember wanting to try something new in your life? When you shared that with those around you, you were hoping to receive their love and support. Instead you were greeted with, "You can't do that!" In four short words you felt like your dreams had been dashed to the ground. Sometimes it was their assessment of your abilities or your opportunities. Wouldn't it have been better if you had heard, "What would it take for you to make that happen?" or "What skills would you need to make your dream come true?" But more often than not, their statement is a reflection of their own limitations and doubts. For me, when I heard, "You can't do that," my response was "Oh yeah? Just watch me." Then I would reframe their statement as a challenge and move forward to accomplish it. I also learned to be careful with whom I shared my dreams. The naysayers were never privy to those thoughts, only those I knew would be my staunch supporters. When was the last time you heard someone say, "You can't do that!" and what did you do to prove them wrong?