“However ordinary each of us may seem, we are all in some way special, and can do things that are extraordinary, perhaps until then…even thought impossible.”
– Roger Bannister
Before May 6, 1954, it was universally accepted that the human body simply could not run a mile in less than four minutes.
But then Roger Bannister, a 25-year-old medical student made history by running a mile in 3:59.4 minutes, a record-breaking feat.
What’s crazy, though, is that within a span of just a few years, numerous other athletes broke the four-minute barrier as well. Not just a record was broken with Roger Bannister’s sprint, but a psychological barrier as well, and suddenly, the impossible became possible.
He broke his barrier, showed others that it was possible, and changed the course of athletics forever.
This same pattern exists in our personal lives.
We all have our own “four-minute miles”, those barriers or records that we think are beyond our reach.
Maybe it’s…
- Starting a business or leading a project.
- Running a marathon or mastering a new sport.
- Writing a book or learning a new language.
- Pursuing a passion or making a significant career change.
- Improving a relationship or speaking up for yourself.
- Moving to a new country or making a life-altering decision.
This is why gradual and consistent growth in our personal lives is so important. Every inch of record-breaking progress in our own lives isn’t just today’s victory, it’s a permanent reminder of what we’ve done… and what we can do.
What we are capable of.
My wife and I both cried tears of joy after she ran her half-marathon.
Why?
Because we knew something had shattered — and it was wonderful. She had accomplished something she never thought she’d be able to do. Something her mind had told her, for a million different reasons, was impossible for her.
And then she did it.
I can honestly say, she’s a different person because of it.
Now she’s running a full marathon and she’s encouraged me to do the same.
So my question for you is this…
What is your four-minute mile?
What’s the personal thing you need to do or record you need to set so that you can start believing in yourself more deeply?
And remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.