"What Don't I Do?"
When we don't, we make an empowered choice.
A few years ago, I read an article that offered this suggestion: Rather than saying “I can’t”, we can say, “I don’t.”
For example, when passing the candy aisle at the grocery store, we might say, “I can’t have that.” If we instead say, “I don’t eat candy” we connect to an empowered decision. “I can’t” sounds like a rule imposed on us. “I don’t” means we’ve decided to make an informed choice.
Let’s remind ourselves to use “I don’t” during our day by asking ourselves this question to begin the day: “What don’t I do?”
You may decide:
I don’t engage in drama.
I don’t stay up too late.
I don’t snack at night.
I don’t second guess another’s decision.
I don’t take my bad day out on another.
I don’t have difficult conversations when I’m tired.
I don’t minimize my contribution to the world.
What don’t you do?