“The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.” – Frank Lloyd Wright



Do you know what happened in May of 1954? For the first time in the history of mankind someone ran a mile in under four minutes. Until that time it had never been accomplished. Part of the reason is because it was believed to be impossible.

“Experts” believed it couldn’t be done. Articles in medical journals explained that your heart would explode if you were actually able to run a four minute mile. Fortunately, no one really needed to worry about their heart exploding because it was physically to run a mile in under four minutes.

That all changed in May of 1954 when Roger Bannister ran a mile in three minutes and fifty-nine and four-tenths seconds. First of all Roger Bannister’s heart didn’t explode. In fact, it kept right on going until he died in the late nineteen seventies.

What’s really interesting is that since that time, there have been almost one thousand documented instances of people running a mile in less than four minutes. In the last fifty years there have been almost one thousand people who have done “the impossible.”

You see what really changed in May of 1954 was not the physical capability of the human body to run one mile in less than four minutes. What changed was the belief that it was possible. It was a psychological, not a physical, limitation. One of my favorite parts of this story is often overlooked – all of the “experts” who said it couldn’t be done were dead wrong. Yet another shining example of why you should avoid “experts” and their opinions!

What is the point of all of this? This makes me wonder how many “4 minute mile” type barriers we have in our own lives (minds)?

If you stop to think about it, I’ll bet you can think of something that you would really like to do, or to have, but aren’t working for it because (like the 4-minute mile) its “impossible.”

I’m willing to bet that everyone has something in their life they would really like to do, or accomplish, or experience. I’m also willing to bet that everyone of those people have items on that list that they will never attempt because it’s impossible.

My response? “Says Who?” You must first believe that it is possible, and then it will be possible. Of course, you will probably have to add large quantities and long hours of preparation and, hard-work. You may have to use some rather “unconventional” means to accomplish your goal. Roger Bannister practiced, trained, and made many, many unsuccessful attempts before breaking the four-minute mile barrier. It wasn’t easy, and accomplishing the feat took a long time.

For what its worth, What is it you “believe” is impossible. Is it really? Says who?