5 Truths To Achieve The Impossible

Achieve the impossible. Well, that would be impossible, right? Today we are going to share the story of Roger Bannister and how he surged past the point of possibility at the time.

Ever heard the saying, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”? Of course you have; it’s one of the trite statements of the 21^st century. However, when I get in one of those ruts where I’m complaining about everything, I have to ask myself, “Am I living it out?” Do I quit when things aren’t going my way? Do I sulk when I feel left out? Do I believe my dreams are impossible?

Impossibility is a mindset. Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile in 1954. Before that, everyone thought it was impossible. Now, it’s the standard. Did it just happen? No.

Roger Bannister suffered defeat after defeat, but in 1953, he ran a 4:06:6 mile and said, “This race made me realize that the four-minute mile was not out of reach.” He realized could do it. He believed it. He famously said,

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.

A post shared by Mens Blog | GoodGuySwag (@goodguyswag) on Mar 5, 2018 at 4:18pm PST

Here are a list of other things people once thought were impossible:

1. Flying
2. Speaking to someone in another town without being there
3. Putting a man in space
4. Sailing around the world
5. Breaking the speed of sound

I didn’t know much about the history of breaking the sound barrier and how men lost their lives attempting to accomplish the feat. From the Circle Maker: “As a plane approaches the speed of sound, shock waves increase and cause pilots to lose control. The buildup of air pressure in front of the aircraft causes a wave drag. And because the air on top of the wing is traveling faster than air on the bottom, due to Bernoulli’s principle it typically results in a catastrophic nosedive.” On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager was the first man to break the sound barrier. It wasn’t easy. He broke his ribs horseback riding two days earlier, his vision blurred as he got closer to Mach 1, and he began to feel dizzy. However, he refused to give up. His name is now written into history.

What I noticed from some of these impossible feat  instances is that breakthrough, or achieving the impossible happens:

1. When you are moving towards something with purpose

Have you found your purpose? What are you most passionate about? Are you making a difference? You’ve probably heard of a “honey badger,” slang for someone going after something so boldly and not caring how they look? When you’ve found your purpose, you won’t let anything get in the way.

2. You are willing to go outside your comfort zone

Losing sleep won’t affect you. You may be nervous, or you may have fear, but you’re courageous because you know you are equipped to get results when you put your gifts into action.

3. You are willing to consistently work towards your goal

Day by day you work towards your goal. It’s a priority. Distractions cannot take you away from your focus on the goal. You’re working at it even when you don’t feel like it.

4. You are willing to go faster than anyone else

You realize when you’re not working, someone else is. You’re running the race to win the prize.

5. As you get closer towards the goal, pressure increases, and things might not seem right

If you are truly passionate about something, you will inspire others to follow in your steps. However, if it’s not a passion born in their hearts, you’ll watch as they step out of line when discomfort comes their way. Not you. You’re in it to win. You have one passion, one goal in front of you, and nothing will get in your way.

Updated: On March 3, 2018, Roger Bannister passed away. His legend will continue.