Trying CAN BE So-o-o NOT DOING!
I was not always a ‘Can Do’ type. Early in my youth I was an “I’ll try” person. As a teen, my father used to say me, “When you work for someone, always do what you are told and always do your very best.” Even with that good advice I did not take that as a ‘can do’’’ advice from my parents. I was blessed to have teachers throughout my school years, and then employers during my teen years that took an interest in me and offered sincere guidance concerning taking instructions and orders from superiors. Then, while in the USAF I would dare not say “I’ll Try.” During basic training and then for four years it was “can do” or else.
With that lesson forever with me I resisted the “I’ll try” responses and, with the help of other mentors, I slowly developed a solid ‘can do’ attitude. What I did not realize during my early years is that it takes a certain self image mind set to accomplish a ‘can do attitude' to replace the old verbal responses of “I’ll try” with “I can do that.” The “I’ll try” habit can become your “I can do” habit. In his book, Psycho-Cybernetics, the famous plastic surgeon, Maxwell Maltz wrote, “To change a habit, make a conscious decision, then act out the new behavior.” It is my belief that every achievement begins in the mind. Have faith, believe you can, and you will soon develop a "can do" attitude.
I learned that for some it was not really an attitude so much as it was a habit of using the word improperly. But for many it was a reflection of their lack of confidence. During my many years in real estate development and housing construction I often had dozens of people working on a project. I encountered employees who, given orders to do something, would respond, ‘I'll try.’ Working this many people I grew more and more aware of the ‘I’ll try’ people; and many times their ‘I’ll try’ responses told me that the person would ‘make an attempt’ but was not at all confident and likely inexperienced. Of course, the word ‘try’ can be used properly such as when the meaning would be ‘to attempt’ or to test out something of which you are not at all sure of.
Many times since I have often wondered what God had to say about this strange ‘I’ll try’ attitude. So I have spent some time in the Bible, looking. God had a lot to say about the heart of man and how what is in it will come out the mouth.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45.
While I did not find any direct wording in the bible dealing with ‘try or I’ll try’; I also did NOT find any instances of God’s speaking or of Jesus speaking in such a negative way. You will find some followers who were negative, but God always spoke positively before He did, and Jesus always spoke positively. NEVER DID HE SAY “TRY” as He taught and healed during his earthly ministry. He never told anyone to “try” to be healed. Jesus used such words and phrases as your faith has healed you, be healed, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. As you believe, do you believe? and, if you believe. You can find many more in the New Testament.
It appears to me that to develop the successful ‘can do’ attitude one must think success. Proper seeds planted in the heart will improve one’s self image to greatly improve life’s journey.
Here are a few KJV References:
Mathew 8:8
Mark 5:34
John 5:8
Mathew 8:13
Mathew 21:22
Proverbs 7:1
And many more of God and Jesus’ positive work in the Bible, but no trying, just doing.
