Capability Versus Ability
The mere confusion between the two that prevents us from progressing
It’s easy to Google a word to find its meaning and be rest assured you know what it entails. But it isn’t so easy in application to reality especially when there is a synonymous word to the actual word you Googled. In which case starts to confuse you and you find yourself alternating their usage.
This is the case with the words capability and ability. Although the consequences aren’t dire, it is worth knowing how confusing these two words in application might be stomping our progress.
Let’s get to it.
Capability is the general ability to do something. It explains how contributing factors can make achieving something possible. Factors such as environment, genes, age, size, height, anything really.
Whereas ability is the same willpower to get what you want. Or do what you want. Anything to do with achieving something. Though there might be the capability to do something, it doesn’t guarantee that you’re able to pull that thing off.
This is where we match our toes.
Confusions arising from:
Presuming we are capable of doing something but not able to accomplish it
This is almost impossible. Because we are equipped with all the things it takes to go for what we want. Except the right mindset (pessimism) to accomplish the said things. Pessimism or doubt is one of the biggest dream killers. You’re crippled in your own mind before you’ve taken a walk. You narrate a lot of negative things that could possibly go wrong, using other’s negative tales as well, to dissuade yourself from accomplishing your goal.
For example: if you are athletic in nature, good body build, strong, right environment with plausible opportunities, and you refuse to delve into sports simply because you’re afraid or don’t believe you’d make it, you’re self-sabotaging.
This, my dear, is your inability to accomplish things, not incapability.
Thinking we are not capable of something but yet able to accomplish it
This is clear example of “the body/mind is willing but…” case. When you are not in the right place, have the right people, in the right situation, right placement in life, it can be hard to accomplish what you want even if you have the willpower. This can work in a reverse situation where you use your will power to tamper with your capabilities to further achieve the things you couldn’t achieve in the first place.
For example: no matter how willing you are to uplift yourself and improve your life, if you’re in a toxic environment that constantly berates you, undermines you, it is super hard to excel to that feat.
Again, the mind is willing, but the situation of things aren’t budging. You can put it any how it fits your life.
Capable and able to do something
If you’re lucky to have both the capability and ability to do something, it’s a win situation. In which case you have the right arsenal of things it takes likewise the right frame of mind to pursue your goals. It’s most likely going to fetch you success with it. This is not always going to be the case, but either of the two, is good enough already, compared to when you have both — which doubles the success rate.
This is when you say things like: I’m capable of running a thousand kilometers, I’m capable of climbing the mountain in cold winter, I’m capable of turning my life around for the better, I’m capable of achieving my career goals, relationship goals, family goals.
We often use the word capable to make up for both capable and able and that is okay too. As long as you’ve ascertained your true capability (capable + able) in accomplishing the said things.
It’s not rocket science anymore to learn certain things like it was used to be thanks to Google. But often times, Google doesn’t go in depth to explain how some word might apply to our lives and help us either improve or not. This is why it’s our responsibility to use these words we’ve learned right and well.
To successfully achieve something, you need to be both capable and able to do so.
Capability lies with having the right source, placement, place, time, energy, resources, mental + emotional + physical + spiritual equipments etc. Whereas ability lies within you. Your willpower, the stories you tell yourself, your experience etc. You can be lucky to be both capable and able to do something, it doesn’t always result to success but it pushes you really far. You can use your capability to create your ability and ability to create a capability to fully accomplishing what you want.
Don’t forget also sometimes we need others to hone our ability to do something.
Goodluck too.
