Want To Know The Three-Letter Word That Can Change Your Life?

When I was nine I decided to cook an herb omelette. By myself. 

It was going great until I added dried herbs. I ended up with faded green bits floating in a sea of egg, instead of bright green flecks in vibrant yellow. 

So I tossed in a whole bunch more. When the omelette was ready, I was quivering with excitement. 

I ate a forkful. 

And then spat it out. 

It was inedible. It had the texture of hay and a smell so strong not even a horse would eat it. 

From that one failure I concluded that I would never learn to cook. Simply couldn't do it. 

A college boyfriend finally convinced me otherwise, but I think of that sad little kid who gave up so quickly. 

Years later a wise friend taught me something I wish my 9-year old self had known.

We were hanging out for a week-end when I said: " I can't __ ". My friend stopped me. She added "YET". 

Every time I said "I can't _____ ", one of us said "YET". Until it became a habit. 

Here's what happened: 

By adding "YET" I trained my brain to envision that future self and to become it. I nurture a growth rather than fixed mindset. I am open to my potential. 

Without "YET" my brain reinforces a foregone conclusion, and prevents me from seeing any other possibility (confirmation bias). I become what I believe I am, like my 9-year old self.

Photo credit: “Omelette” by Great British Chefs is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0