I have started reading from the site “The Art of Nonconformity,” written by Chris Guillebeau. It’s giving me lots of exhilirating and terrifying thoughts and feelings. Chris is all about the “can.” I so dig that, man, and it’s scary to think that whatever you dream of doing you can accomplish if you put your mind to it. At least it’s scary for me, because I have some big dreams, and they may very well require me to make some big changes in my life and do some things that are not exactly the most comfortable for me. More on this later.

As a quick note (for realz, yo!), two days ago on 4/6/11 I played eight chords on the guitar without looking at any sort of tablature while doing so. I also was able to identify each chord in my head as I played it, so I know how to play them and what they are as well. This is good stuff. I’ll doubtless be as good as Steve Vai within a week, for sure.

Actually, while there is some question as to the attainment of my Vai/Hendrix/Vaughan/insert-name-of-your-insanely-good-guitar-hero-here status, I can say that it is a leap for me. It proves I CAN learn to play some guitar if I put my mind to it, which is something I used to flat out deny when I was in college, and something that I questioned for many years following college. Seems I was wrong about me. How about that? Maybe there are some other things in life I thought I couldn’t do about which I may have been wrong. Just what in the heck might possibly happen if I stop believing that I’m incapable of things?

What would happen to you if you stopped thinking you were incapable of things? Career change? Taking up pottery? Learning to dance? Forming a great relationship with someone special? Getting out of debt? Running a marathon?

Feel free to list some positive thoughts on achievement in the comments section. I’d love to hear from you.