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- Impossible is nothing
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
Hi all,
I recently heard/read/watched someone* attributing much of their success to re-framing the question ‘Is it possible to achieve this?’ to ‘Who can help me achieve this?’ It has since got me thinking about impossibility.
In pursuing personal growth, we often encounter a considerable but self-imposed obstacle: the belief that certain things are impossible. We impose limits on ourselves, which hinder our potential.
As children, our imaginations are boundless. We believe that anything is possible with no concept of limits. We channel our inner Buzz Lightyear and attempt to make jumps between furniture items that we have little chance of pulling off, completely fearless.
Children possess highly flexible minds conducive to creativity and the ability to think beyond established boundaries. They can have a greater capacity for divergent thinking, which involves generating multiple ideas and exploring different possibilities. They are less constrained by preconceived notions or limitations imposed by societal norms; children can more readily entertain novel and imaginative ideas.
We apply limits as we grow older
Unfortunately, this cognitive flexibility may decline with age. Society and our life experiences also play a significant role in shaping our belief systems. We are conditioned to conform to societal norms, often accepting limitations as the status quo. Moreover, negative experiences and failures can instil a fear of taking risks and trying new things, further cementing the idea that certain goals are unattainable. We become more risk-averse as we grow older.
Implementation idea
There is nothing I can propose to guarantee that an idea will go from impossible to possible, but what I suggest is to divert your energy from pondering the possibility to focussing on what you can do to tilt the odds in your favour.
When you find yourself asking, ‘Is it possible?’, instead ask, ‘What can I do to increase the chances of success?’.
When seeking to accomplish difficult challenges, there will likely always be a risk of failure, but that shouldn’t be a reason not to begin. By focussing on what you can do to increase the odds of success in your favour, you better spend your cognitive capacity on creating the conditions for success.
Remember, our perception of impossibility often stems from self-imposed limitations.
Best, Alex Joshi
*I sadly can’t attribute it or link you to the content as I can’t recall where or via what medium I came across it. Sorry!
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