Ever caught yourself thinking this? Our brains are so quick to zero in on issues and constraints—even the most creative thinkers can sometimes make assumptions that keep them stuck.

At a recent leadership event focused on an ambitious 2030 strategy, I facilitated a fun but powerful activity to drive this point home. Right away, participants began working within self-imposed limits, convinced the task would take ages when it could actually be done much faster. Once they started questioning their assumptions, they quickly realised what was possible—and completed the task with ease.

Here’s the thing: if we want to achieve big goals without burning out, we can’t just do more—we have to approach things differently. It starts with shifting our inner dialogue from “We can’t because…” to “Since we agree on what we’re trying to achieve, how can we make it happen?”

Next time you feel limited, try challenging the assumptions that are holding you back. Often, the biggest barriers are the ones we don’t even think to question.