Who Gets To Decide What’s Impossible?

What if I hit an impossible place? What if there is really no way to succeed at what I’m attempting?

That quotation is from my last post where I shared thoughts on the power of perspective and a wonderful book, The Little Things: Why You Really Should Sweat The Small Stuff. 

The idea of hitting an impossible place really got me thinking. While it’s rational to assume that there will always be some things that are impossible to do, let me ask you this, who makes that decision?

Who Gets To Decide What’s Impossible?

I can tell you from personal experience that more often than not the seed is planted by other people. Maybe they genuinely want to save you from being hurt, or maybe they don’t want you to do something they’ve been too afraid to try.

And sadly, there are times when people will criticize you and your dreams for no other reason than it makes them feel better about themselves.

Regardless of the origin of the seed of doubt, if we let it, in time we will come to accept these limiting beliefs as our reality.

Of course, this is hogwash.

What I’d like to ask you to do right now is invest just a few minutes of your time to watch the following video of Nick Vujicic’s TEDx talk about hopelessness.

Nick is an Australian author, businessman, evangelist and motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs.

I’ve read Nick’s books and seen him speak countless times, so I can promise that you don’t have to be feeling hopeless in order to be able to embrace Nick’s message, which ultimately, is about who gets to decide what is or is not possible in your life.

Over the years I’ve shared many stories about people who have redefined what is possible in life and here are just a few.

Cliff Meidl was working as a construction worker when his jackhammer punctured a power line and was hit with 30,000 volts of electricity. He wasn’t expected to live, but he did. They told him he would never walk again, but he competed in the 1996 Olympics and because of his courage and spirit was chosen to be the US flag bearer at the opening ceremonies.

At the age of 13 Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. The attack left Bethany with a severed left arm and the loss of over 60% of her blood. To the amazement of everyone she not only survived, she went back to surfing and just over a year after the attack took she took 1st place in the Explorer Women’s division of 2005 NSSA National Championships. Bethany has since married and just recently announced she is pregnant with her second child.

After his first audition, Sidney Poitier was told by the casting director, “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” Poitier did not quit. What he did do was go on to become an Academy Award-winning actor, film director, author, ambassador, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Marilyn DeAlba was 13 years old when her son was born. Despite the overwhelming odds against her, she managed to care for her son, who has cerebral palsy, finish high school, get a job and earn three scholarships that made it possible for her to go to college, at the age of 17 years old.

What if I hit an impossible place? What if there is really no way to succeed at what I’m attempting?

Then, you have to FIND a way.

So here’s my challenge to you.

The next time you question your value or your ability to accomplish a dream or goal, remind yourself that when it comes to your life the only one who can define impossible is YOU.

If you’d like to learn more about Nick’s philosophy on life I highly recommend his book Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life (affiliate link) at Amazon.

Related reading …

• Women Breaking Barriers
• Making Healthy Self-Talk Work For You

Will you be the passenger or the driver in your life journey?

About Marquita A. Herald

Marquita is an author, resilience coach and the chief evangelist at Emotionally Resilient Living. She’s also an unapologetic workaholic who loves red wine, rock n’ roll, road trips (and car dancing!), peanut butter cookies and (especially) a dog named Lucy.

She’s saddened and frustrated by excuses and cruelty and believes authentic compassion is the most powerful force in the world.

To learn more about Marquita and the mission of Emotionally Resilient Living click “here“.

Tags: Impossible, Limiting Beliefs, Perspective, Possibilities