It’s amazing how many things are “impossible” to some people.
There’s countless things that they “just know” they can’t do, or “have tried already”, or things they would love to do or try if they “just had it in them”.
When I hear things like that, I feel a strange combination of anger and pity.
I feel pity for them because I know that with that thinking they can’t be living CLOSE to their potential. They’re unhappy because they’re only small piece of what they’re meant to have been in the world – and frankly, I think that’s pitiful.
I get angry because they’re convincing themselves that their dreams are out of reach when the truth is that they just need to reach out and grab it…to just have the courage the TRY.
Did you know that scientists used to say that it was physically impossible for a human to run a four minute mile?
Not difficult. Not years away. Not doubtful.
Impossible.
We humans you see, just “didn’t have it in us”. After all, we had “tried already” and the guys in the lab coats “just knew” it couldn’t be done.
In 1954, a man named Roger Bannister must have missed that memo, because he was the first to do it.
That in and of itself should say something about “impossible” things…but there’s something even MORE interesting…
Two years after he broke the four minute barrier, HUNDREDS of people did the same thing.
Apparently not only could Roger Bannister do the “impossible”, but many others all over the world could too.
What changed?
Not only did Bannister break a physical barrier when he ran a mile in 3:59, but more importantly, he shattered the PSYCHOLOGICAL barrier too.
Once other runners BELIEVED it could be done, that we DID have it in is, and that what they had been told was WRONG, they broke it left and right. Heck, now kids in high school run sub four minute miles.
That first time we step through the impossible, it’s tough. Damn tough. It takes a lot of practice, effort, and patience. But once we do it, and we KNOW we can do it, doing it again is a lot easier. And the third time is even easier. And before you know it, what was once impossible is commonplace and you have your sights set on a new goal.
What do you think is impossible in YOUR life now?
Driving on the highway? Being comfortable far from home? Skydiving? Losing 50 pounds? Leaving your bad marriage?
Nothing is impossible. They’re all just psychological barriers begging to be broken. As a matter of fact, I’ve come to believe that a big purpose of life is seeking out and breaking those barriers – that’s how you grow.
Here’s what I want to know in the comments section below:
So what’s impossible to you? What’s YOUR four minute mile?
Then tell me how you’re going to go about shattering that barrier.
“No longer conscious of my movement, I discovered a new unity with nature. I had found a new source of power and beauty, a source I never dreamt existed.” -Roger Bannister
Related posts:
- The “Your Anxious Brain” Report – FREE You know, there’s a lot of myths and misinformation about...
- Combat Breathing Harnessing the Power of Military and Police Tactical Stress Control...
- A good place to start is a terrible place to stop. Alright, time for me to clean something up… I know...
- Case Study – Marion Click here to listen to Case Study 1 In our...
- You can’t see their insides… I know I usually don’t post this frequently, but this...
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Driving bridges and highways and also losing 50lbs
I am so terrified of being alone. So afraid everyone will go away and no one will come back. That no one really cares about me and the fear of panic I have when I feel alone is over whelming. My husband is sick now with Cancer. He is my only best friend. I don’t drive places alone. We share a business together. If he dies I will die too.
I don’t know how to live without him. I keep trying to practive driving and I don’t go far but I keep trying. Believe it or not I am 100% better than I used to be. I have so far to go and I am so scared. My mom died last year and she was my world. My dad died two years before her. My sister and I don’t speak nor one of my brothers since dad’s death. I feel very alone. I just see this big world in which I have had a life partner to go through it with. Alone, I shake and panic and can’t even begin to sleep in my house alone. I don’t know how to survive alone. I think it would be better if I went first. Yet I am a survivor inside. I just don’t know how. My brother once said to me when he was drunk and being hateful. he said, One day mom will be gone and your husband too. I will see you all alone
and enjoy watching you panic and have no one to help. I will enjoy watching you. I am so afraid he will be right. I don’t want to give him that enjoyment. I want to be the one to survive. I want us to survive… I am so scared….
To lose 100kg do you believe it?
replace the self talk that tells I’m not worthy with thoughts on being worthy
I just love reading your blogs Rich! You must know how much you have helped me overcome a lot of things throughout the past year. I seem to especially have made a ton of progress since I quit smoking and took up running this past June. So, I quit a pack a day habit, my anxiety went down in a huge way after that as well and I just ran my 1st 5K yesterday. Okay, so I didn’t come in first, 2nd or even 50th:) , but I did it~drove my butt there alone, knew nobody, didn’t even know what to expect, and yes, I was anxious, but I did it! It was such a cool experience.
Here’s the funny part. I came in to work today and my coworkers wanted to know how I did. I told them I did my 10 minute mile and it was an amazing experience, etc. So, a few cheered me on, a few were amazed and then there was that bunch that just had to try to rain on my parade….”well, what are you going to do now it’s dark?” and “how are you going to run when it’s cold outside?” and on and on…. I have nothing to prove to these people, but the negativity was just right there in my face and it showed me how immature and annoying those naysayers were. Either way, I find time to run, and yes, I work full time and am a mom to 3 small boys which just proves your point to me. ANYTHING is possible if you want it badly enough. That doesn’t mean it’s easy or always a bed of roses~ it’s not easy to get up at 5 a.m. and go out in the freezing cold to run, but it is possible.
So, thanks for your blogs. Sometimes, I know what I need is kick in the butt and not to be coddled to really get a point and I appreciate the candidness of your blog!
Oh, and on a side note, my 7 year old, out of the blue, asked me the other day, “Hey, Mom, wouldn’t it be funny if you could scare yourself??” Huh… how ironic…yeah, I do know what it’s like to scare myself but, no it’s not funny, I thought. And, essentially, that’s all anxiety and panic is, right?
I really thank you very much for all your effort for my personal improvement in my driving problem .I have improved my driving for the last week .THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISE ADVICES !