I like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at challenging my 'I can’t' thoughts... but this one snuck right past me.

I’m currently in a coaching container where we’re working on expanding our capacity, and I had a mini ah-ha moment this morning — a breakthrough, if you will. Here is what I shared with them:

I’ve been thinking a lot about capacity* lately — what I believe I can handle, what I think I’m capable of, & where I quietly tell myself, 'I can’t.'

A few weeks ago at Epcot (during the Festival of the Arts), my daughter wanted to go to an Animation Academy presentation. I hesitated — I actually almost just watched — but the cast members (and Maren, my mini me) convinced me to grab a pencil and a blank piece of paper.

We sat down, and all I could think was,
"I can’t draw."
"There’s no way I can do this."

(Now I can see — that was just an old story I’d been telling myself.)

I texted my husband and friend saying, “This is going to be a hot mess...”

Even as the artist walked us through it — my brain kept saying, “No way this is gonna be Goofy...”

Yep, I kept doubting myself — even when the drawing was literally coming together in front of me.

Isn’t it wild how doubt shows up — even when you’re already proving yourself wrong?

But then... it did come together.

And the pride I felt in myself? Honestly, I hadn’t felt that in a long time.

Fast forward to this morning — I was walking on my walking pad when I glanced over and saw my Goofy drawing hanging in my office. And it hit me…

I walked into that room with zero belief in my ability to draw. I had no capacity for it.

But here’s the thing...

I built the capacity by sitting down, starting, and trusting the process.
I didn’t have to believe I could do it or know how — I just had to follow the next step.
With that decision to try, I expanded my capacity & shifted my story.

And now? I know that if I really wanted to learn how to draw, I could. The capacity is there — I just hadn’t tapped into it yet.

Here’s what I want you to know:

You don’t have to fully believe in yourself to begin — you just have to start.
Change the story and take action as if you’re already that person.

Sometimes you don’t realize how capable you are until you look back and think, “Wait... I did that?”

A ‘Lil assignment for ya:

Let’s start with the fun one:

Can you look back and think of something you once thought, "No way..." — but now you’re like, "Wait... I DID that!"

Now, let’s see where that story might be holding you back right now:

Where are you stuck in the story of "I can’t..."?
Where have you decided, "I’m just not someone who..."?
Where are you limiting your capacity before giving yourself a chance to see what’s possible?

Notice the story — then challenge it.

Trust yourself enough to start, even when you’re convinced you can’t pull it off. That’s what expanding capacity (& shifting your story) is really about.

You don’t have to feel ready — you just have to be willing to give yourself a chance to surprise yourself.

And honestly? I def surprised myself — my Goofy is f’n good. 😂👏🏼

*CAPACITY: Your potential to handle, learn, or achieve something — even if you haven’t tapped into it yet.
It’s not about what you already know or believe you can do — it’s about what you’re capable of building through practice, effort, & experience.