Why Not Believe That it Could Be You…?

“Why not you? Why not now? Why not try? Somebody has to win, so...why not believe that it could be you?”

Endurance athlete Rachel Entrekin says she repeated this mantra—she calls it a mantra—over and over on the way to winning a grueling ultramarathon in Arizona recently. She ran for more than two days through heat, cold, deep dark night, pushing her body—and her mind—to overcome perceived limitations hour by hour and redefine what was possible.

I cannot imagine performing a feat like that. I’m not built for it, physically or mentally. I suppose few of us are.

But guess what? The mantra is incredibly relevant for all of us, especially creatives pushing the boundaries of their artistic practice…pushing the mind (which is also the body) to redefine what’s possible, hour by hour, month by month, year by year.

I’ve been repeating versions of this mantra to myself for a while now, and it has an effect. I’m constantly asking why I shouldn’t be the one to achieve x or be chosen for y or considered for z.

Give me one good reason why it shouldn’t be me?

There isn’t one.

This question isn’t fundamentally about entitlement, or winning. It’s about a mindset, an outlook, allowing yourself to feel that all things are possible for you, if you open yourself up to the effort and risk that goes along with finding out.

Entrekin couldn’t know she was going to win that race—and set a record for men and women.

But she could allow herself to project herself as the winner.

She was open to the possibility of realizing her vision, even a grand one, even one where there was no empirical evidence to suggest, yes, you.

As for the now: I’ve come to believe there’s no point in postponing a creative risk you can take today in the hopes that tomorrow you’ll feel safer, or the conditions will be more favorable, tomorrow.

We often tell ourselves we’re not ready or not ready yet. Sometimes that’s true. But often, it’s an excuse to temporarily shut down and turn away from a chance that’s actually an opportunity waiting to be seized by you.

Every day is now and you’re invited to act upon that.

Of course you may fail, by some objective measure. But trying is never failing in the bigger sense. Because as Entrekin says, somebody has to win.

Why not you?

That’s right. Why not you?

Don’t argue. Just go do.

My new novel TENT CITY, is getting some amazing reviews!

“Amy L. Bernstein’s powerful novel reflects modern times with a twist, offering powerful insights into groups that used to work together and now find themselves seemingly at odds, but connected in unusual ways.

“The food for thought generated by this social and psychological examination will prove especially compelling for readers seeking literary reflections of present and future dilemmas surrounding haves and have-nots, simmering frustrations on all sides, and the raise of poverty that both births Tent City and portends its ultimate collapse, as well.

--D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review