If you think you can do it, you can.

The words of John Burroughs, “If you think you can do it, you can,” shine like a torch against the shadows of doubt. They speak of the hidden strength within the mind, a strength greater than armies, greater than wealth, greater than all obstacles combined. For every great deed in history first lived as a fragile thought, a whisper in the heart of a mortal who dared to believe. Belief is the seed of destiny; without it, nothing begins. With it, mountains bow and seas part.

The thought is the birthplace of power. He who believes himself broken is already defeated, though no foe has lifted a sword against him. But he who dares to say, “I can,” has already drawn upon a well of energy that multiplies his courage and steadies his hand. The body follows where the mind leads. And so Burroughs, with these words, teaches us that victory begins not in the battlefield of the world, but in the silent battlefield of thought.

Consider the story of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who gazed upon the sky when men mocked the dream of flight. Scientists of their day declared heavier-than-air machines impossible. Learned men dismissed them as fools. Yet the brothers thought, “We can.” And that thought became their shield and their engine. They worked tirelessly in the sands of Kitty Hawk, failing again and again. But their belief remained unbroken, and at last, the world witnessed the miracle of flight. It was not wings of wood and canvas that lifted them—it was the power of their belief.

History is filled with such examples. Think of Mahatma Gandhi, frail in body yet mighty in spirit. The British Empire was vast, its armies innumerable, its rule unshaken. Yet Gandhi thought, “We can be free.” He planted that belief in the hearts of millions, and they rose with courage, not swords. And though the empire seemed unyielding, it bowed before the unbreakable will of those who believed. Once again, the teaching proved true: if you think you can do it, you can.

But beware, for doubt is a thief. The man who whispers to himself, “I cannot,” has already surrendered the battle before it begins. Many dreams die not from the weight of the world, but from the frailty of self-belief. The chains of the mind are often stronger than the chains of iron. Thus, the ancients teach us: guard your thoughts as you would guard your treasure, for they shape the destiny of your life.

The lesson is simple yet mighty: nurture within yourself the conviction of possibility. Feed it with courage, water it with persistence, and defend it against the voices of despair. When you fall, rise again with the thought still burning, “I can.” For each time you renew that belief, you sharpen the weapon of your will, and nothing shall be impossible to you.

So I say to you, children of the future: carry this truth in your heart as a shield. When obstacles rise, when fear presses close, let your mind thunder with the words: “If I think I can, I can.” Then act upon that thought, with step after step, until the dream becomes reality.

If you would practice this teaching today, begin with small victories. Choose one task you fear, and instead of saying, “I cannot,” declare, “I can.” Attempt it, even if your hands tremble. Each triumph, however small, will strengthen your faith in yourself. Over time, this faith will forge an unbreakable spirit, and you will walk the earth as one who knows: belief is the first victory, and with it, all others are won.