“I could never do that.”

When we hear this (or perhaps we’ve said it?) it’s often in response to a beautiful painting, or an exquisite performance, or a masterful bit of culinary finesse, or even a great physical feat.

“I could never do that” can be said casually when we’re impressed.

But what are we really saying? (Even if we just think it?)

I could never practice two hours a day for three months?
I could never train seriously with a mentor?
I could never enroll in an apprenticeship program?
I could never dedicate two years to learning a new skill?

No. When we hear “I could never do that” it’s most often a light-hearted self-rejection in contrast to someone else’s expertise.

But be careful with the I-could-nevers. Because others have. And maybe you could too. It just might take a lot of work to get there.