Do You Know How to Break Free From Your Limitations?

“The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” – Arthur C. Clarke

The only way we learn the limits of what’s possible is through education. Our first education occurs at home. There we receive our first lessons on what can and cannot be done. We are even taught what makes us happy and sad. We are not, however, taught to openly explore. We explore within the confines of what we are given as the facts of life.

As we get older, we go to school and learn to
defend and justify our limits. There we are taught to be rational and reasonable. Within that mindset, there are many implied limitations that are never questioned. Furthermore, we learn to have intellectually stimulating conversations about what is impossible.  

In a famous example, Fred Smith, founder of Federal Express wrote his thesis about a company that would provide next day delivery service. His professor did not think it was possible. In fact, Fred received a poor grade for his thesis. Had he given in to the wisdom of his teacher FedEx would not exist. What was considered impossible is now reality.

Therefore, the future depends on people who stand for possibility without the know limits that are built in to our social and educational structures. Perhaps there are no limits. There is what people say. And there is what people stand for. Fred Smith stood for the possibility of a company that provides next day delivery service. In hindsight, why would that possibility present a limit? 

We inherit limits and pass them on from one generation to the next. We refuse to question our beliefs in the same way people did not question a flat world centuries ago.

As long as we continue to remain comfortable with what we are given, we will depend on the brave few who explore what is believed to be impossible. What impossibilities do you hold as the truth? What action can you take today to venture past it into the impossible?