Who Says You Can’t? You Do, written by Australian author Daniel Chidiac, is a seven-step guide to discovering your true self, committing to your own life, pushing hard beyond your known limits and gaining what you truly want in your life.
The book contains seven steps and 27 different sub-topics. Every step deals with a different aspect of achieving true success, and the book provides a detailed guide from self-discovery to fulfilment. “There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become.” – Orison Swett
The very first step deals with self-discovery and the power of questioning. This chapter introduces you to the importance of questioning your own self in life, as it is the only way to self-discovery. Ask yourself, what you truly want in your life? Are you going to live an ordinary life? Do you wish for the life that most people live with no comfort, no happiness, no purpose, and no satisfaction? Are you going to settle for less? Or, are you going to push beyond your limits and live that successful life that most people dream about? Ask yourself questions, discover yourself, set difficult goals, and clear your vision, because, unless, you don’t ask yourself questions, you cannot know yourself and your true potential. Life is like a puzzle, unless and until, you don’t have the final picture you cannot solve the puzzle. Thus, in order to lead a successful life, you must first know what a successful life looks like to you. “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you” – Oprah Winfrey
The second step deals with energy, a driving force that we need in our life for consistency. In this chapter, Chidiac suggests that, if we do what makes us happy, the happiness will fill us with the energy we need in order to do more. Enjoy every moment of life and do everything in such a way that you should end up pushing yourself to do more. He also emphasizes the power of focusing on one’s goal. “Permanence, perseverance, and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this that in all things distinguishes the strong from the weak” – Thomas Carlyle
The third step deals with achievement, and this chapter shows you the path to success. The key lessons of this chapter include, taking charge of your life, accepting what you are and what you have, breaking old and harmful habits, changing yourself according to your goals, working towards what you want, staying consistent, and visualizing what you want and then making it a reality. Fear also plays a part in our success, provided it does not cross an extent and become a hindrance. Think about what you want in your life, say it out loud, take a physical action and create it, because, we achieve what we believe in. “We should not have a partner to fill our emotional gaps with their presence. They should be there to complement the gaps that we have already filled and help us find a way to fill the ones we haven’t” – Daniel Chidiac
The fourth step is about relationships; in this chapter Chidiac suggests some simple solutions to heal them. According to him, can heal a broken relationship by hoping for the best, trusting your partner, compromising, and killing your ego. Peer pressure often helps in achieving dreams, but it should never stop you from achieving what you want. For a successful life, set fewer expectations, give and receive love, and above all, do not make your happiness dependent on someone else’s mood. “An active mind cannot exist in an inactive body” – General George
The fifth step is about a healthy physical existence. As we know, our health plays a major role in our success, we must work on our physical fitness and health. If we are healthy and fit we can achieve more. Here, Chidiac emphasizes; visualize that physical body and eventually you will get it because when you imagine it, all your muscles start working to make it a reality. Exercise at least thrice a week. “Living in the moment is not the absence of care for the future; it creates the future with awareness” – Daniel Chidiac
The sixth step is about awakening our minds and unchaining our hearts, to broaden our horizons and way of thinking. In this chapter, Chidiac urges to live every moment of life with joy but to know that the future is inevitable. Our circumstances are the results of our thoughts that later become our actions. So, we must shift our thoughts towards positive and beneficial subjects. Moreover, since our company and surroundings also play a part in the way we grow as people, it important to surround oneself with good people who can impact our lives in a positive manner.
“Shift your focus toward things that matter in life and you will notice your power to create true happiness” – Daniel Chidiac The final, seventh step, is about fulfilment- the real success. In this chapter, Chidiac says, people often make the mistake of looking for the things they want outside of their being. We must search for happiness, motivation, and success inside our being. This is the only way to remain energetic and motivated. This book is a very comprehensive guide to success and Daniel Chidiac explains very complex topics and concepts in very simple ways. The book is easy to understand and the directions given through it can be implemented quite easily. I have personally found this book to be very helpful, especially for the youth.
The writer is a blogger and a student at the University of Engineering & Technology. He can be reached at [email protected]