When I am writing this, and when it will first be published, it’s nearly Christmas… but not yet. There is a certain certainty that Christmas is coming.  There are signs of the times, and there is a long history of it happening around this time of year – it’s got a good track record historically. More than this, we are all drawing on that surety in advance and it is altering our behaviours and our mindsets in the here and now. There's power in the promise of Christmas.

Pairings of words can make a huge difference to our mindset and our behaviour.  There’s “Yes, and…” the pair that keep conversations flowing. There’s “Yes, but…” to which my Dad says, “Everything before the ‘but’ is (the excrement of cattle.)” – you'll have to use your imagination in case the censor blocks the word he uses. And there is, “Not yet…” which is a powerful catalyst to move beyond the boundaries of a fixed and imprisoned mindset.

A fixed mindset – a life behind buts – is very binary, very can and can’t, very black and white, very either or, yes or no, on or off. It has its own form of certainty which can be very comforting. Take the idea that you can’t do something. Holding on to this mindset means the faffing around with exhausting decision-making is all unnecessary. If something simply can’t be done, it needs no more effort or attention. It also may be true that it can’t be done. Phew!

But what if there was something you’d quite like to do, something you fancy doing? Especially if this is a new skill or activity to master, we know it will take effort and energy and time and probably other resources like money. Huge reasons not to do it! However, if it is attractive enough to you, you could harness the power of two little words to be your Christmas-like catalyst of certainty: “Not yet…”

Then your conversations might play out like this…

Friend: “I know you were learning the piano. Have you learned how to play any famous pieces?”

You: “Not yet! But I can make a pleasant enough sound with the exercises I’m learning.”

This suggests your journey is far from over, pleasant destinations and joyous times are ahead, even if they are not yet. Yes, and if you continue on this journey, diligently practicing the right patterns, your 'not yet' is certain to become 'done and dusted'! As certain as Christmas is coming.

Whatever you’re dreaming of becoming, or achieving in the year to come, giving yourself the gift of ‘Not yet…’ will bring hours of pleasure and keep you moving forward.

So what are you dreaming of becoming, or achieving in the year to come?

Lex

A Moodscope member