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The brain has strong narrative circuitry. We get “lost in thought”. Our whole conscious thinking process is little more than a Q&A session with ourselves!

And nothing inhibits us quite so much as when that internal narrative turns negative.

When we want to push into a (perceived) limitation, what sets us free?

Van Gogh said: “If you hear a voice within you saying, ‘I am not a painter’, then paint … and that voice will be silenced.”

And notice, Van Gogh didn’t say “spend a year on your next masterpiece” or “dedicate a lifetime to becoming a master”. He didn’t suggest 20 affirmations every morning “I am a painter, I am a painter, I am a painter …” And he certainly didn’t say “I guess I’m just not a painter, then!”

He kept it small, present and action-focused. Simply: “paint”.

If a voice inside you says, “I’m not very organised”, organise your desk and that voice will be silenced. If a voice inside you says, “I’m not a leader”, make a decision. And if a voice inside says “I’m not good enough”, first make sure you finish that sentence. Good enough … for? At? To? And go do a small version of that.

Prove to your inner system you are all these things. And the tiniest actions will do that. Tiny actions set us free.

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