The illusion of I can’t
Evaporates into a gentle wind,
To become an inevitable I can.
And its box of reasons
Turn to wheel,
When the seed of want,
Is planted in the soil of passion.
Watered with
The feelings of wondering love,
And nourished by
The thoughts of creative imagination.
The bud of possibility
Finds a way through doubts,
It spreads courageous leaves too
That can seize the chance light.
Each period of development
It is a silent protest
Within the quiet words of boundaries,
At the same time, mute declaration
Of the unexplored capacities.
The map of the inner realm
Changes in numerous ways
The horizons that seemed remote
Now lie close to extended hands.
In the field of confidence,
Where “I can’t’ withers away,
Whereas “I can” grows
Into vast forests of endless becoming.
The “Yes I Can” Symphony
You know how sometimes we get stuck in that “I can’t” mindset? It’s like we’re wearing glasses that make everything look impossible. But this poem? It’s all about taking those glasses off and seeing the world of “I can.”
Think about that moment when “I can’t” just… evaporates. It’s like what the philosopher William James talked about – the will to believe. Sometimes, just believing you can do something is half the battle. It’s like your doubt is a puff of smoke, and your determination is the wind that blows it away.
Now, that seed of want planted in passion? That’s where the magic happens. It’s like what Spinoza, this Dutch philosopher, called conatus – this innate drive to persist and flourish. When you really want something, really feel it in your bones, it’s like you’re tapping into the universe’s energy.
And watering it with wonder and imagination? That’s not just daydreaming. It’s like what Einstein said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” It’s in those moments of “what if” that we start to stretch beyond what we thought was possible.
That bud of possibility pushing through doubts – that’s courage in action. It’s like what the existentialist philosophers were all about. Sartre said we’re “condemned to be free” – sounds heavy, but it really means we always have the power to choose, to push past our doubts.
And that changing map of your inner world? That’s growth, baby. It’s like what Carol Dweck calls a “growth mindset.” Every time you push your boundaries, you’re redrawing the map of what’s possible for you.
So what does this mean for us? Well, maybe it’s about catching ourselves in those “I can’t” moments. When you hear that voice in your head saying you can’t do something, pause. Take a breath. Ask yourself: “But what if I could?”
Remember, every “I can” started as an “I can’t.” Every expert was once a beginner. Every success story started with a moment of doubt. So plant those seeds of want. Water them with wonder. Let your imagination run wild.
Because here’s the thing: you’re capable of more than you know. That forest of “I can”? It’s already inside you, just waiting to grow. So go ahead, give yourself permission to believe. After all, as the philosopher Audre Lorde said, “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” Your “I can” is waiting. What will you do with it?