The inspirational stories of successful entrepreneurs, writers, and celebrities sometimes appear unrealistic to us. We often believe these people are somehow different and have unique qualities that helped them achieve their goals. The difference between accomplished individuals and the rest of us is strong perseverance despite numerous failures.
Many passionate souls stop working towards their goals and delude themselves into believing that their dreams are impossible to achieve. In contrast, if one keeps working consistently, they can turn all of their impossibilities into endless opportunities. It doesn’t require extraordinary skills to accomplish your goals. Instead, use consistency and perseverance in helping you transform your dreams into reality. This is the main idea of the following quote:
It always seems impossible until it’s done
Where Does the Quote Come From?
The quote is popularly attributed to the Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela. Unfortunately, its attribution cannot be verified due to the lack of credible sources. However, a similar quote (in terms of its meaning) first appeared in an encyclopedic work titled “Naturalis Historia” (Natural History), written by Pliny the Elder.
Indeed what is there that does not appear marvellous, when it comes to our knowledge for the first time?How many things, too, are looked upon as quite impossible until they have been actually effected?Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Book 7, Chapter 1
Who Was Nelson Mandela?
Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist and the first president of South Africa. He was born on July 18, 1918, in Umtata, Cape of Good Hope, Africa. Mandela studied at the University of Witwatersrand, worked as a lawyer in Johannesburg, and joined anti-colonial and African politics.
In 1943, Mandela joined African National Congress, actively participating in campaigns against apartheid, a system of racial segregation that gave one race preference over others. He was elected the head of the African National Congress of the Transvaal chapter and became popular amongst the people. He was arrested and put on trial numerous times to suppress his rising fame and stop him from initiating anti-apartheid campaigns.
I detest racialism because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.
Nelson Mandela
In 1962, he was arrested for leading an anti-government sabotaging campaign and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandela remained in prison for 27 years, and his imprisonment posed a threat of racial civil war. Thus, in 1990, President F.W.de Klerk released him and negotiated an end to apartheid.
In 1993, Mandela and President de Klerk were honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for ending apartheid and stopping a potential civil war. Mandela was elected as the president in 1994 and held his presidency till 1999. He is one of the world’s most respected and revered political figures.
What is the meaning of the Quote?
The quote beautifully explains one of the biggest fears that any individual faces. We all dream about achieving specific goals and transforming our lives. But despite being highly passionate and working hard, many individuals forget about their goals and accept the circumstances given to them. Most of the time, our fear of failure restrains us from working for the life we have always wanted.
Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.
Japanese Proverb
Our mind instills danger when we plan to start something new or step out of our comfort zone. Moreover, it plants the seeds of self-doubt, stopping us from pursuing our goals. It is daunting to try different things and broaden our experiences because our brain perceives it as risky. However, a little leap of faith, courage, and belief in yourself makes all the apprehension of failure fade away. Therefore, never give in to your fears; trust your abilities and crush your doubts by taking tiny steps. By doing so, you will soon be successful.
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
Lao Tzu
Making massive changes in life can terrify us and quickly drains all our motivation. Thus, avoid taking giant leaps, as it will shake your confidence and distract you from achieving your goals.
5 Simple Steps to Achieve Your Goals
The following 5 steps will help you reach your objectives and embrace success. However, you must be consistent and continue striving until you accomplish all your goals.
1. Write Down Your Goals
Achieving success is often assumed as a strenuous process. However, success requires persistence, hard work, and a positive mindset. The first step to getting closer to your goals is to write them down and review them daily.
Our minds generate numerous thoughts every second, which we often forget about. Thus, writing down your goals will help you remember them and clarify what you precisely need to do.
2. Create Small and Actionable Steps
After creating your plan, break it down into baby steps. Do not create unrealistic or difficult plans, as it will lead you nowhere. Many people make big plans and wish to achieve their goals overnight. Success is always the result of tiny habits and actions you must take daily.
Hence, never force yourself to make considerable changes. Start slowly and continue until you savor the sweet fruit of success.
3. Cut off Negativity
Negativity is often the root cause of failure. Hence, you must try your best to avoid negativity. Surrounding yourself with people who don’t appreciate you or try to make you feel insignificant will shatter your confidence. Therefore, be mindful of who you spend your time with. Keep a company that motivates and inspires you to keep pursuing your goals, as it works wonders for your self-esteem.
4. Be Ready To Become Uncomfortable
We all love our comfort zones and dread stepping out of them. Staying in our comfort zone is one of the biggest reasons we don’t grow and prosper. If you are serious about achieving your goals, prepare to leave your comfort zone. Success never comes from doing comfortable and safe things. Instead, it requires you to do and experience something you have never done before. Becoming a captive to comfort will deter you from growing and will never allow you to unleash your full potential.
The following quote explains the drawbacks of staying in your comfort zone and shines a light on how you can unleash your potential.
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for
John A. Shedd
5. Do Not Be Afraid of Failing
Many individuals dread failing in their endeavors. They want to achieve success in one go. While it is a beautiful idea to turn our dreams into reality just by working for a short time period, it is far from reality. When you embark on the journey to accomplish your goals, you will meet certain obstacles that you must overcome. Hence, do not be scared if your plan doesn’t work out or doesn’t give you the result you expected.
Failing is not a bad thing. It is proof that you worked for your goals. If you encounter failure and think about giving up, remind yourself of successful individuals who never gave up. If they had given up on their dreams after a few setbacks, they would have been unknown to the world.