How many times have you been told you couldn’t do something or have been made fun of for trying and failing? If you’re anything like most upwardly mobile adults, chances are it’s been a few times. The big question here is, how many times did that discouragement make you give up and how many times did it spur you on toward success.
While it sucks for people to not believe in you, it can also be a powerful motivator. There’s nothing better than to prove someone wrong in every way possible. In fact, some people end up achieving more than they set out to do because of this drive to be right.
The next time anyone tells you that you can’t do something, let that annoyance and frustration push you to work harder, be better, and excel at the thing you want to do. Whether it be running a 5k, writing a book, or starting your own business, if it’s important to you – prove those doubters wrong!
The next time anyone tells you that you can’t do something, let that annoyance and frustration push you to work harder, be better, and excel at the thing you want to do.
What do your doubters say?
It’s time to examine past experiences. What are some of the things you believe people doubt about you or your abilities? List as many as you can think of for five minutes. With that list, consider carefully where your dreams and sense of purpose want to go. If there are things on that list you stopped doing because of someone else’s stupid remark, but speak to your dreams and purpose, then tell yourself that you would like to prove that person wrong. If you find that a few of the items only ended up on that list because someone else told you you needed to try it, and they don’t excite you, then give yourself permission to let it go.
Proving the choir teacher wrong
Back in high school, which now truly feels like ages ago, the choir teacher didn’t like me. I was an awkward teen who had a hard time sitting still and staying quiet which put me on her bad list. When the time rolled around for competitions, such as Sterling Scholar, I’d spent every elective credit in the music department and had gotten all A’s. In one competition, I snuck in and looked at everyone’s scores and saw that my scores had beat out several of her favorite students by a fraction. But, seeing as she got to make the final call, one of her favorites got the award instead.
Needless to say, I was beyond frustrated at having worked so hard for something only to lose it because of someone’s opinion. As I entered college, I needed to prove that she was wrong and auditioned for an operetta. When I got that part, it proved that I was enough and my dream was worth putting in the effort to succeed.
