The Power of “YET”

By Mairead Rodgers, RD PHEc

Everyone starts somewhere. I think the saying “Every expert was one a beginner” is definitely true.

When I first started coming to Degree, I remember saying that I couldn’t do something. I don’t remember what, and that doesn’t matter now, but Kaleda’s answer was “no, not YET”, and it’s shaped the way I talk about both my own goals, and the goals that the people around me have.

Just because you can’t do something right now, doesn’t mean you can never do it. Every single person who’s come through our door has seen someone do something amazing and said “I wish I could do that”. We might have even said “I can’t do that” or “I’ll never be able to do that”. My answer to you? You can’t do it YET.

If you see someone doing a rope climb, a handstand, toes-to-bar, stringing together pull ups or double unders, running fast or far, or lifting something heavy, you should know there was a time when they couldn’t do that YET. Cheer them on, keep working, ask your coaches for help, and some day you just might be able to do that thing too.

Try rephrasing your thoughts from “I can’t do it” to “I can’t do it… YET” and see how things change.