Quit Trying!
Did I get your attention?
How often do you hear those words—quit trying?
I would guess not very often. Most of the time, we associate those words with giving up or just moving on.
But let me clarify why I would tell you to quit trying.
When we tell others—or even ourselves—“I’ll try,” what we’re really saying is: I may not. Because other things might come up… or my discipline might slip… or I want to give myself an out so I can always say, well, I tried.
When we use the word try, we’re giving ourselves a built-in excuse. A pass. A way to avoid full accountability.
But when we say, “I will,” everything changes.
“I will” shifts our attitude. It declares that we’re going to overcome whatever stands in the way of what we said we would do.
Does that mean it might take longer? Be more challenging? Turn into something bigger than we expected—or even something we don’t enjoy?
Of course.
But the difference between try and will is the difference between being interested and being committed.
And when we’re committed, no obstacle is too big. We just find a different way around it.
“I will,” says: This matters to me. I’m going to follow through.
My challenge to each of us this week is simple:
Quit trying… and start saying “I will.”
“I will” is one of the most powerful statements we can use.
Use it when you’re starting something new.
When a friend asks for help.
When an event needs a volunteer.
When you want to live with the kind of character that says, if I say ‘I will,” you can count on me.
Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.
I will quit trying.