Not only is it a contraction of cannot, it is a word that disempowers us all. You cannot do that, I cannot do this. These phrases mentally weaken us by throwing up barriers that restrict our perspective.

Instead, reframe the statement. From I cannot, move to what is stopping me? With almost every goal and outcome, there are obstructions, whether physical, social or psychological. Some of these are with good reason and purpose (you cannot jump off the top of the london eye, for example), but for almost everything else, with a change in the way the statement is created, a path and a way forward can be discerned. From identifying what you want to achieve, it is possible to understand the knowledge you need to gain, the skills that can be learned and so step by step, move closer to where you wish to be.

We can get better, because we’re not dead yet.

Frank Turner Get Better