"Most Likely to Succeed"

Written by Kelly Epperson

My high school graduating class was over 500 kids. The yearbook selected one boy and one girl as "Most Likely to Succeed." Does that mean the rest of us were doomed to failure? Of course not. But sometimes we let a certain thought permeate our brain and over the years accept it as a hard and fast belief.

For as long as I can remember, I have told myself that I can't sing. Because of that "belief," it took me 46 years to shed my self-consciousness and sing at a karoake bar because I "knew" my voice was terrible and "I can't carry a tune."

Letting go of old thought habits is freeing. No one has offered me a recording contract, but my warbling didn't shatter any glasses, and we had fun.

Too often we put the negative labels on ourselves. Can't sing. Can't dance. Can't act. Can't paint. Can't whip up a perfect souffle. Can't name all seven dwarves. Can't leap a tall building in a single bound. Can't. Can't. Can't.

Let's change the tide. Today your joy assignment is to list all the things you CAN do. You are so much more capable than you realize. Notice your own "everyday" abilities and notice your unique talents.

I can tie my shoes. I can tell time on a clock with hands. I can read. I can write an entire letter in cursive handwriting. I can text. I can upload a video to YouTube. I can sew on a button. I can rhyme.

I can make a wonderful spritz cookie. I can decorate my home in a way that I love. I can name all eight reindeer. I can ……

Go crazy with this. List all the little things you can do. List all the big things you can do. Can you remember a Bible verse you learned when you were eight? Can you dance the tango? Can you build a fire? Can you run a mile? Can you fly an airplane? Can you recite a poem? Can you knit? Can you make a toddler smile? Can you comfort someone? Can you wrap a pretty package? Can you fix a computer? Can you whistle? Can you name that tune in five notes?

Can you love with all your heart? Can you trust? Can you believe that you are meant to live a life of joy?

Take a lesson from that little blue engine of the storybook pages. I think I can. I think I can.

You can. Start your list right now. I hereby deem you most likely to succeed.