Benefits of a Can-Do Focus

By Darla Isackson

In the late 1990s, I was privileged to care for my elderly mother for the last four years of her life. She had always been active, and she sometimes chafed at the limitations brought on by poor health and advanced age. I urged her to focus on what she could still do, rather than on what she could no longer do. Even though it was difficult, she tried her best to maintain a “can-do” perspective.

Lessons from Children

Recently, my own limitations have motivated me to bring this “can-do” philosophy to the foreground. I take heart to recognize how much I still can do. In this regard, I learn good lessons from grandchildren. For instance, a baby doesn’t fret and cry (or complain) because she cannot walk. Until walking is possible, babies have a really good time wiggling, then turning over, then crawling. They are content doing what they can do. A child learning to read is thrilled to pick out words and recognize sounds. He doesn’t complain that he cannot make sense of Shakespeare. With these examples to inspire me, I similarly enjoy my present life a whole lot more when I focus on gratitude for what I can still do. 

The Gift of Listening

For instance, my mind still works even when my body doesn’t! I can listen. I’m available in a whole new way. There is magic in a listening ear. One day, my five-year-old granddaughter planted herself on my bed and talked nonstop for the better part of an hour. I learned more about her life and her thoughts than I ever had when I was rushing around. I was totally delighted with her and happy to realize I had done something meaningful even though I was flat on my back: I had made a child feel important by giving her my undivided attention.

Speaking of listening, I’ve discovered a whole new world now that I have time to listen to programs on my iPod. Now, I’m really listening to music that was previously nothing more than a pleasant background to me. I pay attention to different instruments and voices and thoroughly enjoy the way composers and arrangers put them together for different effects. I listen to numerous books on tape and inspirational material and am glad for both the entertainment and education I’m receiving from them.

Proceeding with What Is Possible

I’m finding that a “can-do” focus has unbelievable benefits. Looking back, I believe I first learned this philosophy from an incredible man named Art E. Berg. I met him in the early 1990s when I was the editor for the inspiring book he wrote about his life experiences. 

Art Berg broke his neck in an automobile accident and became a paraplegic in his early twenties. He could have given up and spent the rest of his life in bed. Instead, he lived by faith and told me, “I try to focus all my energies on what I can still do.” He did what was still possible and astounded people when he kept pushing the envelope. He married, and he and his wife, Dallas, adopted children. He loved wheelchair racing and set a world record in 1993 by completing an ultramarathon of 325 miles between Salt Lake City and St. George in Utah. His book, Some Miracles Take Time, opened many doors for him. He became a professional speaker, and his theme was “The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer.” He had a van especially outfitted so he could drive by himself, and he flew all over the country unaccompanied to give motivational speeches. The Baltimore Ravens were so motivated by Art’s speech that they gave him an honorary 2001 Super Bowl ring. Art’s life is a constant reminder to me of the benefits of focusing on the “can-do” things in life.

New Habits Are Possible

The only thing that keeps me from a “can-do” focus is bad habits. Making the effort to change a habit proves I’m in control and can change—no matter my age. I can teach an old dog new tricks when the old dog is me! Research shows that it takes only 21 days to form a new habit. Determination is necessary and trial and error is to be expected. However, after only 7 days of awareness and sincere effort, most people begin to see a difference. I did! After 2 weeks of sticking to it, my slip-ups tend to be followed with instant self-correction! Here’s how that works in real life. I say to myself, “I hate not being able to go and do the things I want to do today.” Then I catch myself and say, “I’m so grateful I can take care of my own needs and that I have such a beautiful, comfortable home to be in.”

When I focus on what I can still do, I attract new energy and create a more positive environment that may even help others want to be more positive. When a family member or a friend on the phone start a negative conversation, they wind down quickly when I refuse to play the “ain’t it awful” game with them. If I’m positive, it rubs off. Nobody wants to be around somebody who is moaning and groaning about their limitations, but the more fun I am to be around, the more I lift the dreariness around me and help others adopt a lighter mood. 

When I have a “can-do” attitude, I escalate good feelings instead of bad feelings. Complaining is contagious, and anger is contagious, but so is laughter. Have you ever been around a child who laughs for no reason and soon has everyone laughing? I love knowing I can be the one to act, not react, and start a happy chain of events.

Concentrating on what is possible instead of what is impossible makes sense. I have a plaque in my bathroom wall that says, “Do not mourn what cannot be. Celebrate what is.” In the book One Day at a Time, we read, “To adapt ourselves with a quiet mind to what is possible and attainable, therein lies happiness” (p. 358).

Now admit it, aren’t those benefits of a “can-do” focus irresistible? Join me in a 21-day effort to make it a habit. Nothing could be more likely to increase our happiness quotient! By Darla Isackson

In the late 1990s, I was privileged to care for my elderly mother for the last four years of her life. She had always been active, and she sometimes chafed at the limitations brought on by poor health and advanced age. I urged her to focus on what she could still do, rather than on what she could no longer do. Even though it was difficult, she tried her best to maintain a “can-do” perspective.

Lessons from Children

Recently, my own limitations have motivated me to bring this “can-do” philosophy to the foreground. I take heart to recognize how much I still can do. In this regard, I learn good lessons from grandchildren. For instance, a baby doesn’t fret and cry (or complain) because she cannot walk. Until walking is possible, babies have a really good time wiggling, then turning over, then crawling. They are content doing what they can do. A child learning to read is thrilled to pick out words and recognize sounds. He doesn’t complain that he cannot make sense of Shakespeare. With these examples to inspire me, I similarly enjoy my present life a whole lot more when I focus on gratitude for what I can still do. 

The Gift of Listening

For instance, my mind still works even when my body doesn’t! I can listen. I’m available in a whole new way. There is magic in a listening ear. One day, my five-year-old granddaughter planted herself on my bed and talked nonstop for the better part of an hour. I learned more about her life and her thoughts than I ever had when I was rushing around. I was totally delighted with her and happy to realize I had done something meaningful even though I was flat on my back: I had made a child feel important by giving her my undivided attention.

Speaking of listening, I’ve discovered a whole new world now that I have time to listen to programs on my iPod. Now, I’m really listening to music that was previously nothing more than a pleasant background to me. I pay attention to different instruments and voices and thoroughly enjoy the way composers and arrangers put them together for different effects. I listen to numerous books on tape and inspirational material and am glad for both the entertainment and education I’m receiving from them.

Proceeding with What Is Possible

I’m finding that a “can-do” focus has unbelievable benefits. Looking back, I believe I first learned this philosophy from an incredible man named Art E. Berg. I met him in the early 1990s when I was the editor for the inspiring book he wrote about his life experiences. 

Art Berg broke his neck in an automobile accident and became a paraplegic in his early twenties. He could have given up and spent the rest of his life in bed. Instead, he lived by faith and told me, “I try to focus all my energies on what I can still do.” He did what was still possible and astounded people when he kept pushing the envelope. He married, and he and his wife, Dallas, adopted children. He loved wheelchair racing and set a world record in 1993 by completing an ultramarathon of 325 miles between Salt Lake City and St. George in Utah. His book, Some Miracles Take Time, opened many doors for him. He became a professional speaker, and his theme was “The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer.” He had a van especially outfitted so he could drive by himself, and he flew all over the country unaccompanied to give motivational speeches. The Baltimore Ravens were so motivated by Art’s speech that they gave him an honorary 2001 Super Bowl ring. Art’s life is a constant reminder to me of the benefits of focusing on the “can-do” things in life.

New Habits Are Possible

The only thing that keeps me from a “can-do” focus is bad habits. Making the effort to change a habit proves I’m in control and can change—no matter my age. I can teach an old dog new tricks when the old dog is me! Research shows that it takes only 21 days to form a new habit. Determination is necessary and trial and error is to be expected. However, after only 7 days of awareness and sincere effort, most people begin to see a difference. I did! After 2 weeks of sticking to it, my slip-ups tend to be followed with instant self-correction! Here’s how that works in real life. I say to myself, “I hate not being able to go and do the things I want to do today.” Then I catch myself and say, “I’m so grateful I can take care of my own needs and that I have such a beautiful, comfortable home to be in.”

When I focus on what I can still do, I attract new energy and create a more positive environment that may even help others want to be more positive. When a family member or a friend on the phone start a negative conversation, they wind down quickly when I refuse to play the “ain’t it awful” game with them. If I’m positive, it rubs off. Nobody wants to be around somebody who is moaning and groaning about their limitations, but the more fun I am to be around, the more I lift the dreariness around me and help others adopt a lighter mood. 

When I have a “can-do” attitude, I escalate good feelings instead of bad feelings. Complaining is contagious, and anger is contagious, but so is laughter. Have you ever been around a child who laughs for no reason and soon has everyone laughing? I love knowing I can be the one to act, not react, and start a happy chain of events.

Concentrating on what is possible instead of what is impossible makes sense. I have a plaque in my bathroom wall that says, “Do not mourn what cannot be. Celebrate what is.” In the book One Day at a Time, we read, “To adapt ourselves with a quiet mind to what is possible and attainable, therein lies happiness” (p. 358).

Now admit it, aren’t those benefits of a “can-do” focus irresistible? Join me in a 21-day effort to make it a habit. Nothing could be more likely to increase our happiness quotient!