Trust your ability!

The words of Itzhak Perlman—“Trust your ability!”—resound like the clarion call of a master to those who hesitate at the threshold of greatness. They are simple words, but heavy with truth, for they summon the spirit to banish doubt and to step boldly into the fullness of its gift. Perlman, whose life has been both a triumph of art and a testament of perseverance, speaks not as one who lived in ease, but as one who conquered frailty with faith in his own strength. His voice is a reminder that ability is not enough; one must also trust it, honor it, and wield it with courage.

The origin of this saying is rooted in the life of Perlman himself. Stricken by polio as a child, he was told by fate that his body would not carry him easily through the world. Yet what seemed a limitation became the backdrop for greatness. With his violin, he rose above infirmity and became one of the greatest musicians of his age. Had he doubted his hands, his strength, or his mind, the world might never have heard his soaring music. Thus, when he says, “Trust your ability,” he speaks as one who has proven the wisdom of his words with a life of victory.

History gives us many echoes of this truth. Consider the story of Joan of Arc, a simple peasant girl with no training in warfare, yet she trusted her calling, her vision, her God-given ability. She stood before kings, she led armies, she altered the course of nations. If she had listened to the voice of doubt, if she had bowed to those who mocked her, history would have passed her by. But she trusted her ability, and through her faith, she became immortal in the chronicles of time.

To trust one’s ability is not arrogance—it is the rightful acceptance of the gifts planted within. Doubt is the chain that binds many to mediocrity, while trust is the key that unlocks their destiny. For the human spirit, when weighed down by fear, cannot soar; but when lifted by faith in its strength, it can scale mountains. It is not enough to possess talent, wisdom, or strength; without trust in these, they lie dormant, like seeds left unwatered in the soil.

Perlman’s words remind us that the world often whispers, “You cannot.” Circumstances shout, “You are too weak.” But within, there is a quieter voice that says, “Rise, for you can.” To listen to that inner voice is to live. The sculptor who dares to strike the stone, the writer who dares to pen the first word, the soldier who dares to face the battle—they are all living examples of this command: trust your ability. Without it, their gifts would remain hidden, their destinies unfulfilled.

The lesson is clear: self-doubt is the enemy of greatness. Trust does not mean perfection; it means the courage to act even when the outcome is uncertain. To every soul, young or old, the teaching stands: believe in the strength that has been given to you. Do not bury your gift in fear, but bring it forth into the light. For when you trust, you awaken the power that was always within you, waiting to be released.

Practically, let each person begin by silencing the inner critic. Each morning, remind yourself: “I have been given gifts, and I will use them.” Step boldly into tasks that intimidate you, for it is in facing them that your ability will reveal its strength. Surround yourself with those who encourage, not those who belittle. And when you stumble, as all must, remember that failure is not proof of weakness, but a stepping stone to mastery.

Thus, the command of Itzhak Perlman endures as a torch for every generation: “Trust your ability!” Let it burn in your heart, for it is the flame that drives the timid to courage, the broken to healing, the ordinary to greatness. If you would rise, if you would leave behind the chains of fear, then heed these words, and step boldly into the life that only trust can unlock.