Whether you think you can or can't
Your mindset directly determines whether you take action; believing you can try is the first step toward any result.
Snapshot · The Mel Robbins Podcast
9 Small Things That Will Help You Feel Amazing Again
Explore episode
Jul 27, 2026
Where this was said
Change #1: Whether You Think You Can or Can't, You're Right
At 3:18 · chapter starts 2:55
The first change is built around a single sentence Mel attributes to her grandmother: 'Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right.' [1] — Mel Robbins "Your belief about whether something is possible is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think you can't get a better job, you won't apply, ne…" 03:18 She unpacks it using the relatable scenario of wanting a better job — if you believe you can't get one, you won't update your resume, network, or apply, so your belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Flip it to 'I think I can,' and suddenly you're willing to try, which opens the door to results. Mel is careful to distinguish between certainty of outcome and willingness to attempt: the mindset hack is simply to believe in the possibility of trying, not to guarantee success. She closes the segment by rattling off a list of practical applications — relationships, fitness, AI skills — reinforcing how universally the principle applies. The key takeaway is that domino-effect change starts not with a plan, but with a belief.
Whether You Think You Can or Can't, You're Right
Your belief about whether something is possible is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think you can't get a better job, you won't apply, network, or update your resume — and you'll be right. The smallest mental shift toward 'I think I can' is what opens the door to action.
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