You’re probably wondering if I know I have a typo in the title to this blog post. And indeed, the power of yes might be an interesting post to write someday. But I really am talking about the power of yet.
The other day, my daughter Jessica and I were watching Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium for about the forty-second time. This is a Dustin Hoffman movie that I don’t think people appreciate enough. The main character, Molly Mahoney (played by Natalie Portman), manages a toy store but doesn’t believe in herself.
At a critical juncture in the movie, when all seems lost, Jessica turned to me and said, “She doesn’t have her magic yet.”
Which is true, and when she does discover her magic, she can truly begin her life.
But this isn’t a post about a movie. It’s a post about an attitude. Jessica is always talking about the things she can’t do yet, but not in a defeatist way. In fact, it’s a technique she uses to overcome challenges. “I can’t do that yet,” she’ll say. “But I will.”
I try to remember that every time I have a failure or a challenge. “I don’t know how to do that yet,” I’ll say to myself. “But I will.”
And it does work.