Find your creative solution ✨
Turn “I can’t” to “How can I”
This love letter is for those times in life when you find yourself saying “I can’t” or any version of it.
I can’t afford that
I could never run a marathon
I am never going to be able to go to Europe in the summer
I will never have the car of my dreams
I can’t stay on budget
These “can’t” statements feel SO real to us when we are thinking them, or casually saying them out loud. They feel like truth because we really believe it.
The reframe I encourage for myself and my clients is to go from “I can’t” to “how can I make this happen?” What creative solutions can I find to make this happen. This one mindset shift can take a series of “I can’ts” into a series of possibilities. ✨
The reframe:
What would I have to do to afford this?
How could I prepare to run a marathon?
What could I do to plan for Europe 2025?
What would I need to do to get the car of my dreams?
How could I set up my routine so I can stay on budget?
These simple shifts can take a world of no, and turn it into a world of “maybe” For me, that feels lighter and more fun!
If you’re still not convinced, I ’ll share a story about how I turned my “I can’t” into a creative solution.
Right after I graduated college at K-State I was desperate to travel abroad. I felt so confined and in Kansas and I wanted to get out and explore the world, experience new cultures, perspective’s, and people.
I graduated with a few performing jobs lined up, none of which would take me out of the country. These jobs were so low paying that I could barely cover my day to day expenses let alone save for travel.
I felt so stuck. I found myself saying “I can’t” so often it felt like that was my new normal.
One day I thought to myself, if I can’t afford to travel, what else could I do to make it happen? What creative solution could I come up with?
I thought, ok, what resources do I have?
At that time it was energy, talent, and perseverance.
On Instagram I was obsessed with looking at other girls traveling and living their dreams. Their lives looked so fancy free, abundant, and expansive. I was so jealous, but also inspired. If they could do it, I could do it too!
One of the girls I came across was performing on a cruise ship and sailing around the Caribbean. I had never thought of that as an option before, but hey, could it be a creative solution to my problem?
Looking into it more I realized not only could I perform and be abroad, but I would be getting paid for it and living for free!
This seemed ideal!
I spent the next year working toward this. I auditioned for multiple cruise lines and shows, all resulting in big fat no’s.
I was really devastated, and started looking for other creative solutions, like teaching English, or being a travel guide or influencer.
About a year after I first started looking for opportunities, I was performing in Tennessee at Dolly Wood, Dolly Parton’s theme park during Christmas time. One of the cruise lines miraculously held auditions in the town and although I was tired of rejection, I went.
I ended up being at the absolute right place at the right time. Within a week I was hired to perform in a Broadway musical on Norwegian cruise lines. Where was I going?
Europe.
It took a year, but I turned my “I can’t” into a creative solution that allowed me to travel the world AND create financial stability.
I used what I had to make it work, and you can too!
Hopefully this love letter has inspired you to think about the things you think you can’t do in a new way.
Know that your desires are there for a reason, and anything you desire is available to you. Sometimes you just have to get a little creative to achieve it 😉
Sending you love ❤️
Sara