From “It’s Not Possible” To Expanding Possibility.

“It’s not possible.”
“That’s just how it is.”
“There’s nothing we can do.”

These affirmations stifle creativity. They shut the door before options can even be explored.

I’ll admit, this has been a learning edge for me. My default was often to see limitations, even to limit myself,  by believing “that’s just how it is.” But again and again, I’ve been surprised by creative colleagues who found out-of-the-box solutions I couldn’t see at first.

I still remember co-creating a 4-page questionnaire and then being asked to fit it on one page. My immediate response? “It’s not possible.”

A week later, every question was there - reformatted, tightened, double-sided - on a single sheet of paper. All thanks to the creative genius of two teammates. So much for “not possible.”

Sometimes things really are stuck. But what if, instead of closing the door too soon, we stayed open a little bit longer - not only to what might be possible, but to allow colleagues who think differently to offer their unique contributions?

Now imagine instead:

• “Let’s explore what’s possible.”

• “Let’s imagine another way to look at it.”

• “Let’s see what options we might find.”

This simple shift opens the door.
It invites creativity instead of shutting it down.
It signals openness instead of finality.
And it says: we don’t have to have the answer yet,  but we’re willing to look together.

The words we choose matter. They can cut off possibilities, or they can create space for new solutions to emerge. And often, the best answers come from that space.

So, what’s your go-to? Limiting and focusing, or opening and broadening? What are the pros and cons of your way of thinking?