The Power of Yet: Developing a Powerful Mindset | @caroline-cavanagh | Anxiety Specialist

26 May 2025 · 2 min

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2:05

In this short motivational talk, anxiety specialist Caroline Cavanagh shares a classroom technique centered on the three‑letter word “yet.” She explains that when students (or anyone) say they can’t do something, adding “yet” reframes the statement from a fixed limitation to a temporary state, reducing fear of failure—a major source of anxiety. Cavanagh illustrates the concept with a bike‑riding anecdote, showing how repeated attempts turn “I can’t ride” into “I can ride yet,” leading to real skill acquisition and confidence. She also makes a personal aside about her own height, noting that while she may never grow taller than 5’1”, she can still grow in many other ways by adopting this mindset. The talk encourages teachers and learners to step out of comfort zones, use “yet” to promote a growth mindset, and thereby lessen anxiety and foster personal development.

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As I sit here, you won't be able to tell, I don't quite hit 5 foot 1, and I've had most of my life with the mickey being taken out of me about my size. But I had a lovely reminder this week of how small things can actually be really powerful. I was working with some teachers doing a follow-up webinar from some training earlier in the year, and I asked them, of the techniques that we've learned, which one has had the most impact in the classroom so far? And the answer they gave me was a 3-lettered word: yet. The technique is the response you give when someone says, be that child or adult, I can't do it. We avoid doing something because of the fear of failure. It's one of the biggest causes of anxiety. So to avoid the risk of doing something wrong, you just say you can't. However, if you don't step out your comfort zone, you never grow. So by saying yet, it helps that individual recognise that life is peppered with examples of things that you couldn't do that you could do now. The one I use with children is riding a bike. At some point, they kept falling off, they couldn't do it. But now, they jump on a bicycle and they have the freedom that being able to cycle gives them. So, this is just another example of something you can't do now, but you will be able to do in the future. And they grow. I've given up hope of growing beyond 5 foot 1. But I can still grow in many other ways. And I hope this little technique will help you grow and step out of your comfort zone too. Have a great day.