Impossible Is Just A Word

Everybody, at some period of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn't daydreamed about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn't dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or enchanted with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad twist in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get involved in the monotony of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem in setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get stuck thinking I can't do this. It's too difficult. It's too impossible. No one can do this.

All the same, if everybody thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no discoveries in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. In theory, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Fortunately for the bumblebee, no one has informed it that it can't fly. So fly it does.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Failed dreams, and tattered dreams.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting presumptions, you'll never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you'll find yourself hanging on to the impossible dream.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, make a list of things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, list the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, jot down the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now review all the headers make an effort each day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them once you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try fulfilling the goals under the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

When each of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’

As you repeat this procedure, you'll discover that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible start to appear possible after all.

You see, the technique here isn't to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and begin working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is not wise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.

Those who just daydream towards a goal without taking action wind up frustrated and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was achievable for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a couple of seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these unachievable dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be hard work and discipline. But observe that that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is as true as it can be.

So dream on, friend! Do not get caught up with your perceived limits. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you'll just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.