Did Someone Say 'Impossible'?

I've just been reading No Shortcuts To The Top by Ed Viesturs. Ed is one of the greatest american mountaineers today, having climbed all 14 of the highest mountains in the world - those above 8,000 meters - and he did it without using bottled oxygen. That's an extraordinary achievement, although he's not the first to do it. That honor goes to the legend of climbing, Reinhold Messner, who reached the highest points on Earth without supplemental oxygen. Ed was the 6th man in history to do this. By doing it, these guys disproved the long-held belief that to even try such a thing would be fatal, and it had to be true, ALL the foremost experts and scientists of the time said it would be suicide to attempt. It took two guys to follow their heart/instincts instead of listening to the "experts" and show the world that whatever we can imagine, we can accomplish... if we really want to.

That reminds me of another such instance in the sport of distance running.

For decades, scientists and doctors fiercely affirmed that it was physiologically impossible to run a mile in under 4 minutes. To try to do so would burst one's heart with the effort. Well, one young physiology student knew that that had to be wrong. He knew we could run faster. He knew HE could break the 4 minute barrier and prove the "experts" wrong. To make a long story short, Roger Bannister ran a mile in fractions of a second under 4 minutes and made history. A year later, dozens of runners had run sub-4 minute miles. Once the world saw that it could be done, many others allowed themselves to do it.

But it always takes those courageous few who are willing to follow their hearts and close their ears to everyone who would tell them that "it's impossible".

Things are only believed to be impossible until someone actually goes out and does it. Then more people go out and do it. Eventually it becomes commonplace, anyone can do it if they really want to.

So whatever dream you may have, no matter how big or how small, close your ears to those who would discourage you and bring you down, and open yourself to the guidance from your heart - from your deepest instincts - and listen. Ed Viesturs constantly comes back to the point that the reason why he is so successful on the mountains is due to his motto "Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory" and to the fact that he trusts his instincts. If something doesn't feel right, he turns back. Even if he is only a few hundred meters from the top - like he did on one of his first attempts to climb Mt. Everest. In other words, you can achieve your goals, and you can do it and still be happy and healthy at the end.

Whether it's climbing a mountain, running a mile, making a fortune or having your dream relationship, nothing is impossible. Those who focus on the obstacles never get past them. Things are only impossible until someone goes out and does it anyway.

Whatever it is that you hear whispered in the deepest recesses of your soul, whatever your deepest desire... it would not be there if there was no way for you to achieve it.

If you seek, you will find a way.


CHB


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