By Paula Gregorowicz
What is possible? Have you ever come up with a great idea or hada dream and killed it before it even had a chance to see thelight of day? It seems that before we even give our dreams achance, we often throw in a reality check and immediately ask -is that really possible? Whether it is a quick gut check out offear or our limiting beliefs speaking, it seems the safe way outand a way to maintain the status quo. I am certain that amillion great personal and professional journeys get stoppedright at this question.
What would our world be like today if people like Thomas Edison,Louis Pasteur, or Marie Curie asked themselves that question andjust gave up? What if all the legendary artists and musicianscompromised or listened to some authority figure telling them to"get a real job"?
Summer is a great time for kicking back and relaxing. It is alsoa fabulous time to find inspiration because when we take alittle time to "play" our best ideas come to us. So, considerthese 2 inspiring observations on the idea of what is possible.
The Man in Yellow
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have at leastheard about Lance Armstrong's comeback from cancer to win theTour de France an unprecedented 7 times in a row. As a cyclistand fan, I've read and watched more than my share of Lancerelated news and features. However, there are a few key pointsthat I think are worth pondering for a few moments as we look at"what is possible".
When Lance was diagnosed with metastasized cancer in 1996 as hewas emerging as a champion cyclist, all bets from the topmedical professionals in the land were that this guy had 30%chance or less to survive yet alone return to his profession asa cyclist. What if Lance looked at the odds and asked himself"what is possible" and just gave up? It would have been easyenough to do, but he didn't even consider that as an option. Heset his mind and body on the singular focus of recovery and camethrough beating all odds.
Well, that's beating impossibility enough, isn't it? Well, no,it's not; he may have beat cancer, but what about being acompetitive cyclist? Surely most people would consider thequestion "what is possible" and then go find a desk jobsomewhere. Nope. Not this man, he chose to ignore what waspossible and decided to create his own possibility.
But surely, it is not possible for this man to be competitiveyet alone win the toughest and most physically grueling bikerace on the planet (over 3000km in 20 days of racing with untoldmeters of climbing). Well, the impossible must be possiblebecause on July 24, 2005 he won it for the 7th time in a row andhas dominated his sport like no other in the history of cycling.Not only that but through his non-profit foundation he directlyimpacts the lives of many in the cancer community while pushingthe scientific community to take research to a new level.
Be strong. Pain is temporary but quitting lasts forever. - LanceArmstrong
Besides the belief that it is possible, the ability to carry onand not quit even when things look bleak makes all thedifference in defining what truly is possible. While life offersno guarantees, belief, attitude, and hard work most certainly upyour odds and bring the impossible closer to possible. Formillions of people, especially those affected by cancer, thisman has redefined the realm of possibility.
Some Flightless Waterfowl
What would a bunch of penguins have to do with definingpossibility? I mean, really they are birds and cannot even fly!
Well, I recently went to see the most remarkable documentarymovie March of the Penguins. It is an unforgettable tale oflove, determination, and the seemingly impossible existence ofthe emperor penguin.
Each winter, in the coldest, most inhospitable climate on theplanet, Antarctica, the emperor penguins begin a journey theyhave taken for millions of years. While I couldn't begin to dothe tale justice, the bottom line is these creatures walkhundreds of miles in sub-freezing temperatures, go without foodfor months, and risk their lives daily all for the singularfocus of bringing forth new life.
Now I know these penguins are not sitting around the icebergeating fishes and analyzing the intellectual possibility andprobability of this journey. But, you just have to say, afterwatching the film, how the heck is that possible? Was MotherNature off her rocker the day she designed this? Well, maybeit's because the penguins don't ask, they just do what they needto in order to live and thrive and that is what makes theimpossible possible.
What's Possible for You?
While these little examples exemplify the notion of "impossiblemade possible", my hunch is that you see examples like these,feel a huge sense of inspiration, but often take not anotherstep forward because you think - but it's not possible for me.
So, this month, do a little mid-year exploration of your goalsand dreams. What has been stopping you from taking that firststep? Has it been the "is it possible" question?
If so, take a few minutes to explore things from the belief thatpossibility is infinite. From the vantage point of knowinganything truly is possible, ask yourself, "What will I dodifferent today, tomorrow, and in the future to make my dreams areality"? Spend some time journaling or brainstorming about itand create your own new realm of possibility.
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