If anyone tells you that you cannot do something, then you have two choices … agree with them or prove them wrong.
If you agree with them, you are basically letting their opinion choose your fate for you. You are giving up before really trying, or figuring out how to succeed. When you do this, you cheat yourself out of success, confidence and joy. You are also cheating yourself out of the learning and growth opportunity that comes with trying something new.
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes people will tell you not to do something for your own well being. We have to use a little bit of judgement in this area and determine if they are really helping us or if they hurting us? Are they offering a safer or better way to achieve our goal, or are they just trying to push us down? Do they want us to give up because of their own fear of success? Are they afraid if we succeed we will leave them behind? The list could go on for a while but you must weigh who is telling you not to try and the reason behind it.
My choice is always to prove them wrong. I may fail, but this is part of my learning and growth experience. If things don’t work out the first time, I try again until I work out all the kinks. In the end, if I choose not to move forward, it is my choice. Usually I succeed, even if success comes after several attempts.
The choice is always yours to make, my advice to you … prove them wrong.