Chandra Eden, The True Me Yogi

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The Success Principles

Author: Jack Canfield

"Your brain is designed to solve any problem and reach any goal that you give it. The words you think and say actually affect your body. We see that in toddlers. When you were a toddler, there was no stopping you. You thought you could climb up on anything. No barrier was too big for you to attempt to overcome. But little by little your sense of invincibility is conditioned out of you by the emotional and physical abuse that you receive from your family, friends, and teachers, until you no longer believe you can. You must take responsibility for removing I can't from your vocabulary."

How to Stop Adulting Your Dreams to Death 

Remember when you were a toddler, teetering on wobbly legs, convinced you could conquer the highest sofa or mount the steepest pile of laundry? Back then, you didn’t second-guess, overanalyze, or spiral into self-doubt after a misstep. You just did. Your brain was like a fearless, boundless ball of problem-solving energy. But then life happened. Cue the chorus of “careful!”s, “don’t do that!”s, and the occasional less-than-constructive feedback from humanity at large. Spoiler alert: your toddler-like invincibility didn’t stand a chance.

Today, though, we’re here to stage a comeback. Your brain is still the same powerhouse it was back then—capable of solving anything you throw at it. The problem? You’re throwing it the wrong words and ideas. It’s time to reclaim that fearless problem-solving spirit, ditch “I can’t,” and start making bold moves again. Pop open a juice box for old time’s sake—this is going to be fun.

Your Brain, the Ultimate Problem-Solver 

Here’s the good news about that squishy, walnut-shaped organ between your ears: it’s designed for brilliance. Your brain isn’t a lazy underachiever—it’s a word-fed supercomputer. Tell it, “This is impossible,” and it goes, “Cool, I’ll save my energy then.” But give it a challenge like, “How can I make this happen?” and it’ll immediately start weaving possibilities like a caffeinated spider spinning a web. What you tell your brain directly impacts how it works. Spoiler alert again: your words matter. A lot.

And as toddlers, we were instinctively good at feeding our brains the right input. Climbing a tree? Cake. Jumping off the swings? Obviously. Back then, the idea of “I can’t” wasn’t even in our vocabulary. We hadn’t yet been smothered by society’s well-meaning but creativity-stifling cushions of “safety.” 

Language and the Conditioning Decline 

Then came the conditioning. Maybe it was an authority figure shaking a head and saying, “Nope, can’t do that.” Or a classmate laughing at your epic dance moves during the school talent show (they were groundbreaking, you’re a legend). Little by little, those voices became your inner soundtrack. Worse, those repeated “you can’t” messages turned into beliefs. 

The result? Before long, you no longer climbed trees or jumped off swings—not because you weren’t capable, but because you believed you weren’t. And nothing fuels mediocrity quite like a brain saddled with the motto, “Better not try.” 

But here’s the plot twist no one told you in grade school. You’re the DJ of your mental playlist, and you can remix it anytime. 

From “I Can’t” to “Watch Me” 

How do you take responsibility for removing “I can’t” from your vocabulary? Sometimes you need more than raw willpower or a pep talk in the mirror. This is where tools like NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) come into play. For example: if the phrase “I can’t” keeps popping up every time you think about public speaking, you might use NLP techniques—like reframing negative self-talk or running a quick “swish” pattern—to change how you perceive the challenge. Suddenly, that mental wall labeled “I can’t” can begin to shrink, making way for “Maybe I can, and here’s how.” NLP helps you swap out old limiting beliefs (and the negative emotions glued to them) with more empowering ones, freeing your brain to get creative about the next steps.

Throw on that imaginary cape, and follow these toddler-approved tactics:

1. Talk to Your Brain Like a Coach, Not a Critic

Channel your inner toddler cheerleader. Instead of saying, “I can’t do this” (cue your brain powering down), try, “I haven’t figured out how to do this—yet.” Add that little word “yet” to practically anything. It’s like a fist bump to your brain, signaling that solutions are on their way.

2. Rewrite the Narrative 

Whenever “I can’t” creeps in, take a moment to question it. Ask yourself, “Where’d that belief come from?” Is it yours, or was it an unwanted hand-me-down from a parent, teacher, or middle school frenemy? If it’s the latter, toss it out like last season’s jeans—thank them for their service, but they no longer fit.

3. Celebrate Your Inner Toddler 

Here’s a fun exercise (less exhausting than crawling into a jungle gym, I promise): when you’re faced with a challenge, ask yourself, “What would toddler-me do?” That tiny little daredevil didn’t overthink the risks. They just went for it. Picture that uninhibited version of yourself and channel their energy to take that first step—because, yeah, you were kind of awesome back then. Spoiler alert #3, still are.

4. Surround Yourself with “Can-Doers” 

Toddler-you didn’t exist alone; your squad of tiny explorers encouraged your antics. Maybe you need a similar squad today—people who root for you and remind you of what’s possible when you take risks.

5. Stop Babysitting Your Fear 

Unlike a toddler’s bedtime tantrum, fear doesn’t deserve your nurturing care. When fear pops up screaming, “You can’t!” pat it on the head, give it a cookie, and ignore it while you get to work proving it wrong. 

Final Thoughts 

Here’s the thing—your brain never lost the magic. It’s still that unstoppable toddler under the surface, drunk on possibility and invincibility, just waiting for you to stop saying “I can’t.” The world is your playground, and the swings are calling. So go ahead. Run back up the slide. Climb that tree. Leap boldly toward your biggest goals. Your brain’s got your back—it just needs a pep talk and a shot of toddler-like bravery to get started. What are you waiting for? The playground isn’t going to conquer itself.