It always seems impossible until it is done – Nelson Mandela
One of life lessons my wife and I are trying to instil in our kids is not to underestimate what they can do when they make an effort, and not throw in the towel too easily. My son, Joshua is most guilty not making an effort, especially on tasks he is not really interested in. From one generation to another, ‘impossible’ is continuously being empowered by many failed attempts, uncontrollable fears, inadequate skills, experiences and insights.
Unknowingly,’impossible’ has become a popular vocabulary and growing giant holding many to ransom.
Many groundbreaking discoveries and breakthroughs were tagged impossible until someone or a group of people dared to try and accomplish the ‘impossibles’. Accepting anything as impossible is accepting an opinion as a fact, which may cripple motivation. The reality is, nothing is ever impossible. It may be impossible for a time, a season but not forever. What you may tag impossible is someone else’s reality. Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest boxers that ever lived captured the delusion of impossible with these words,
Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion.Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.
The question then is, why are we so quick to tag or accept impossibility? Why is the impossible seem really impossible? There are many reasons, but I will highlight a few that I have experienced and observed.
1. Failed Attempts
This is probably the biggest reason we tag situations impossible. There is nothing as frustrating as failing on the same task over and over again. When you come to the end of yourself, unable to motivate yourself to try again, you may be tempted to give it up and try something easier or less demanding. What would have happened if Thomas Edison stopped after 10,000 failed attempts of his experiment? Rather he affirmed, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Failed attempts taught Edison to innovate.
2. Lack of Vision
Inability to see beyond where you are today will limit your audacity to try something uncommon or unfamiliar to you, your background or people around you. The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur were credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight. Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible.*
It was initially an impossible task until they devoted three years of their lives to crafting what they envisioned.
3. Lack of Experience
Experience is priceless. The process of acquiring experiences may be very painful and discouraging but I can guarantee you, you will be a better person afterwards. Experience comes with applying yourself over time. As Randy Pausch once said, “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.”
4. Lack of Exposure
Exposure is experience observed. It has similar effects as experience. I made it a point of duty to expose myself to many cultures, ways of working, ground-breaking ideas by mainly reading and visiting places. Read wide and broadly. Leave your cocoon and visit places and expose yourself to the world of unpredictable achievements.
5. Lack of Knowledge, Skills or Insight
Limited knowledge or insight can result into premature conclusion that a task is impossible. I would have concluded that some of today’s ground-breaking, innovative medical surgeries are impossible because of my limited knowledge. Technological advancement and further medical researches have made some surgeries that were impossible fifty years ago become normal procedures today.
6. Age and Background
One of few inquisitive young minds I have ever met is my seven-year-old son, Joshua. He asks questions about anything and everything. The truth is, his mind is still limited on many things and it is understandable if he considers some things in life impossible.
Let me conclude by saying, because it’s impossible now does not mean it will be impossible forever. Impossible is and should be potential, temporary and a dare.
The Paradox Of The Impossible March 2nd, 2016Wole Sosanya
Tagged: EXPERIENCE, Failed Attempts, IMPOSSIBLE, IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING, PARADOX, vision
