It’s Impossible to Know What’s Impossible
So many things are possible just as long as you don’t know they’re impossible.
The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
Which of these things is impossible?
· Travel back in time.
· Establish a human colony on Mars.
· Live beyond 200 years.
· Build roads that don’t develop potholes.
· Legally avoid paying any taxes.
· Find healthy, delicious, economical food.
· Make a square circle.
The only choice that is clearly impossible is the last one.
Other choices feel impossible but someday might happen.
Scientists once believed that it was impossible to convert mass into energy.
But along came Albert Einstein and his famous equation.
It was once believed that human anatomy would not allow a person to run a mile in less than four minutes.
But along came Roger Bannister; since then, 24 high school students have run a sub-four-minute mile.
We once thought self-driving cars were possible only in movies.
But along came Elon Musk and other innovators.
There are logical impossibilities, such as making a square circle.
Other things violate fundamental laws of physics as we understand them.
Beyond that, we cannot tell with certainty what is absolutely impossible.
At a more practical level, many things feel impossible because no one has done them yet.
These accomplishments materialize only if someone believes they are possible and works diligently to make them happen.
Other times brave people have set out to accomplish impossible tasks and made other important discoveries.
Christopher Columbus miscalculated the circumference of the earth and stumbled upon an unknown land mass just as his supplies were running out.
There is another class of impossible things: things that are possible for others but impossible for us.
Others can speak in public, but not us.
Others can learn foreign languages, but not us.
Others can play chess, but not us.
But if you are able to read this, you have the ability to accomplish these things.
If you believe in yourself and put in the work, a positive result is guaranteed.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you.
Learn about people who have accomplished difficult things.
Become a student of what is needed to accomplish your goal.
Hang out with people who are doing difficult things.
Then you can be a part of the golden age of human history.
Now we just need someone to finally give us flying cars.
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