You guys have been doing a great job of giving me a lot to think about lately. Keep it up.

Today it came from my good blogging buddy El Guapo, who was kind enough to drop by to share his wisdom.

He left a really interesting comment on the results from the adventure poll we took the other day.

“In a wider sense, I’d also add misperception to the list. I have a perception of what life should be, where Alex just goes out and makes it what it could be.”

Guapo was referring to Alex Autin’s approach to life. She’s experienced a lot of cool things, such as living on a yacht off the Great Barrier Reef for a week. For free. Does Alex think in terms of “could” more often than “should”?

On the surface, it doesn’t seem like there’s much of a difference between “should” and “could.”

But once you really start contemplating your own misperceptions in life, you might realize the difference between “should” and “could” is enormous.

“Should” is restrictive. It will hold you back. If a situation or an opportunity doesn’t fit within the parameters of a carefully defined perception, someone with a “should” mentality might pass it by.

“Could” is ultimate freedom. Imagine the endless possibilities. If a situation or an opportunity doesn’t fit within the parameters of a carefully defined perception, someone with a “could” mentality might approach it with curiosity and excitement.

Try it out for yourself next time an adventurous opportunity presents itself. Instead of saying something like “I’m too old for whitewater rafting and I should probably sit this one out,” say “I only live once and I could experience what this wild river has to offer.”