If You Say You Can’t, Then You Can’t — But If You Say You Can, Then You Can

The most powerful muscle in your body is not your arms or your legs… it is your mind.

In the battlefield of life, your first enemy or your first ally is your own belief.

If you believe you can't, the world can't make you win.

If you believe you can, the world can't make you lose.

Let me start with a story that proves this beyond doubt.

Wilma Rudolph: The Girl Who Couldn’t Walk… But Ran to Glory

Born prematurely and diagnosed with polio, Wilma Rudolph was told by doctors that she would never walk again without braces. Many would have accepted this fate—but not Wilma, and not her mother. Her mother refused to believe the doctor's sentence. She worked on her legs daily, made Wilma do natural therapies, and most importantly, fed her belief.

One day, Wilma stood without braces. Then she walked. Then she ran.

And eventually, she created history—becoming the first American woman to win 3 Olympic gold medals in track and field!

The body failed—but her mind refused to give up.

And when the mind leads, the body follows.

Lord Krishna’s Words in the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, our eternal guide to life, affirms this powerful truth again and again.

Verse 6.5 (Sanskrit & Meaning):

“उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥”

Translation:

“Let a man lift himself by himself; let him not degrade himself. For the Self alone is the friend of the Self, and the Self alone is the enemy of the Self.”

Krishna is clearly saying—You are your own savior. You are your own destroyer.

The power is in your hands—or rather, in your mind.

Other Inspiring Examples from History

Helen Keller – Born blind and deaf, people believed she could never communicate. But with sheer determination, she not only learned to speak but also graduated with honors, wrote books, and became a global symbol of courage.

Beethoven – One of the world’s greatest composers was completely deaf. And yet, he created music that moved millions. Why? Because he didn’t listen to what others said he couldn’t do.

Swami Vivekananda – As a child, he was restless, mischievous, and doubted often. But his Guru, Sri Ramakrishna, kept telling him, "You are the lion, not a sheep!" This belief awakened his true power, and he transformed the spiritual landscape of the world.

Dashrath Manjhi (The Mountain Man) – A poor laborer whose wife died because the village didn’t have a road through a mountain. Alone, with a hammer and chisel, he carved a 360-foot path through the mountain—because he believed he could.

> These are not just stories; these are proofs that human will can transcend destiny.

A Psychospiritual Insight: What We Tell Ourselves Shapes Our Reality

As a psychotherapist, I’ve seen clients who healed chronic physical pain—just by changing their beliefs. And I’ve seen strong, young people collapse into depression simply because they kept repeating, “I can’t do this.”

The subconscious mind is a powerful genie. Whatever command you give—it obeys.

So if you keep saying, “I can’t meditate… I can’t live without sugar… I can’t change…”

You’re programming your inner world to fail by default.

Change the Inner Words — And Your Life Will Change

Here’s a small experiment:

Instead of saying “I’m too tired to exercise,” say “I love how my body feels after movement.”

Instead of “I can’t live without coffee,” say “I’m exploring how much more energy I have without it.”

Instead of “My child won’t listen,” say “My child is slowly learning through my calm example.”

Words create thoughts. Thoughts shape reality.

This is the very foundation of the Law of Karma.

Bhagavad Gita Verse 4.13 (on Action and Choice):

“चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः।

तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्॥”

Translation:

"The fourfold order was created by Me based on the divisions of guna (qualities) and karma (actions). Though I am its creator, know Me as the non-doer, eternal."

Krishna tells Arjuna—you are free to act based on your qualities and karma.

You are not bound. You are powerful.

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Let’s Rewrite Our Children’s Story Too

If you are a parent, teach this to your children—not just in words, but in example.

If you keep telling them:

“You can’t do it without me…”

“You won’t be able to manage…” You are handing them fear and limitation.

Instead, say:

“Try. I believe in you.”

“Struggle is not failure—it’s strength-building.”

Let them fail. Let them cry. Let them rise. That’s how wings are built.

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In Conclusion

If you say you can’t, then you can’t.

But if you say you can—and truly believe it—even the universe will conspire to make it happen.

Believe. Speak. Act. And watch the miracle unfold.

• Manjushree Rathi