What we can or cannot do what we Meaning Factcheck Usage

Context

In the book, this isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s foundational. He lays it out right when he’s talking about the power of decisions and how they shape our destiny. He argues that to change your life, you must first change your decisions, and to change your decisions, you have to shift your core beliefs about who you are. This quote is the anchor for that entire concept.

Usage Examples

So, how do you actually use this? It’s a lens for reframing challenges.

• For an aspiring entrepreneur stuck in “analysis paralysis”: The block isn’t a lack of business knowledge; it’s the belief “I’m not a risk-taker.” The work is to start adopting the identity of someone who is capable of navigating uncertainty.
• For someone afraid to speak up in meetings: The issue isn’t a lack of ideas; it’s the belief “I’m not articulate” or “My ideas aren’t valuable.” The shift is to start seeing yourself as a contributor whose perspective matters.
• For a writer with writer’s block: The problem isn’t a lack of skill; it’s the crippling belief “I’m a fraud” or “I have nothing new to say.” The key is to act as if you are a confident, flowing writer until the belief catches up.

To whom it appeals?

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Common Questions

Question: Is this just positive thinking?
Answer: Not even close. Positive thinking is about slapping a happy thought on top of a negative belief. This is about identity-level change. It’s deeper. It’s rewiring the core operating system, not just changing the wallpaper.

Question: What if I genuinely lack the capacity for something?
Answer: Fair point. This quote is about the limiting beliefs that hold us back, not about ignoring objective reality. Most of us, however, hit our self-imposed limits long, long before we ever get near the edge of our true capacity.

Question: How do you actually change a core belief?
Answer: That’s the million-dollar question. It starts with awareness—catching the story you’re telling yourself. Then, you challenge it. You gather evidence against it. Most importantly, you take actions that are inconsistent with the old belief, which is how you build evidence for a new, empowering one. It’s a practice.