This week on WORDS MATTER, Deanna Ley, The Catalytic Coach, shares a moment from behind the scenes of finishing her first book, ROOTED: Your 30 Day Journey Toward Whole-Self Health. What started as frustration and exhaustion turned into a reminder that words don’t just describe our reality – they define it.

“I DON’T DO CAN’T.”

Born from a breaking point, that phrase became Deanna’s own Empowered Refusal — a concept she first heard from Marie Forleo, based on research by Dr. Vanessa Patrick. The study found that saying “I don’t” instead of “I can’t” changes how the brain processes decisions, strengthening conviction and follow-through.

This episode reminds us that language shapes identity and that the words we choose — especially in the hard moments — can either drain our strength or call it back to life.

What Listeners Will Learn:
• The science behind the Empowered Refusal and how it builds self-trust
• Why “I don’t” is more powerful than “I can’t”
• How to reclaim your authority through intentional language
• Why empowered words create sustainable confidence and follow-through
• How to use “I DON’T DO CAN’T” as a daily anchor in hard seasons

Memorable Quotes:
• “I DON’T DO CAN’T.” - Deanna Ley
• “‘I can’t’ sounds like restriction, but ‘I don’t’ says, ‘This is who I am, and this is what I choose.’”
• “Our words tell our brains what’s possible.”
• “Empowered Refusals build conviction, confidence, and follow-through.”
• “Each time you shift from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I don’t,’ you’re reminding your brain of who’s in charge.”
• “Say it until you feel it. Let it anchor you. Let it remind you that you always have another choice.”
• “I don’t do can’t. I do courage. I do persistence. I do returning to myself, even when it’s hard.”

When life feels heavy and doubt whispers “you can’t,” this episode is your reminder that you can, you will, you must, and you are — because the words you speak to yourself will always lead the way.

Your WORDS MATTER, because YOU MATTER.

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