"Do or do not.  There is no try."

Yoda, from The Empire Strikes Back

Yoda packed a lot of power and wisdom into his tiny green frame.  (Ok, I have to admit in the latest Star Wars flick that he did a little too much spinning in the air during the fighting scenes to be believeable, but go with me here.)

How often do you catch yourself using the word try?  Pay attention to this over the next week or so.  When you say you'll try to make the deadline, or give your friend a call, or go to the gym, what do you really mean?  Are you committed? 

Or are you creating a convenient little loop hole to excuse yourself from doing what you can do?  As a form of scarcity, trying keeps us playing small.  It keeps us locked in our comfort zone, safe to keep doing what we've always done. Trying is another way to hold the present hostage, to run away from greatness.  In my experience, when I tell someone I'll try, as I'm saying it, I know I won't follow through.  I'm letting myself off the hook. 

Here's a shift to consider:  What if you said, "I'll do my best."  Would that change how you show up?  For me personally and the clients I coach, it has made a big difference.  Doing your best is a standard that can be applied in any situation regardless of circumstances.  It doesn't mean you will be perfect, or the results will be ideal, it means you will do the best you can do right now, when it matters most. 

You can leave trying alone, and be who you are.

What have you been trying to do for awhile now that you can let go of?