The Miracle Mile and Shaolin-Do
"That which a mind can believe and conceive a mind can achieve."
This is a quote from the famous self-help guru, Napoleon Hill. There is such a tremendous abundance of meaning in this statement that one could write an entire book on it. In fact, nearly every self-improvement author since Napoleon Hill has devoted a chapter or so to this concept.
This idea is the core of personal accountability. It says that if you are unhappy with your current situation, you have only yourself to blame. It empowers you with the complete control of your own universe. You are the all-powerful creator of your own destiny.
Anthony Robbins states that he is empowered by believing the lie that he is responsible for everything that occurs in his world; good or bad. It is far better to err on the side of accountability than believing that you are powerless. If you believe in your powerless, then you are willingly giving up this power. Why in heaven’s name would anyone yield this power. In short, because it is easier. You are literally trading a thrilling and beautiful life of meanning and purpose, for the safe and easy life. When you were young and full of dreams and a fire within, would have ever imagined making that kind of trade for any amount of money or safety.
Now you might have trouble believing that the Universal intelligence responds to your every desire and wish with action. You might say that forces outside of you are stopping your success in life. You certainly wouldn’t stand alone in thinking this way. However, you are not necessarily in very good company. The ones that have shaped our world and stand as beacons through the ages, believed the power lay within them.
Can we prove the idea that the mind can either limit your life or release you from the limitations others impose? Let’s look at some real-world evidence to answer this question.
Prior to May 6th 1954 (50 years ago this year), most experts believed that it was physically impossible for a human being to break a 4 minute mile. Of course every runner was attempting to run at the best possible time, so in a way they were all trying to do just this every time they competed. On May 6th of 1954, Roger Bannister become the first human (to be timed) to run under a 4 minute mile.
"I had a moment of mixed joy and anguish, when my mind took over. It raced well ahead of my body and drew my body compellingly forward. I felt that the moment of a lifetime had come. There was no pain, only a great unity of movement and aim. The world seemed to stand still, or did not exist. The only reality was the next two hundred yards of track under my feet. The tape meant finality - extinction perhaps"
Amazingly, what had seemed to be a physical impossibility (the medical community thought that running faster would destroy the body) was achieved in the months following this day by another runner and in the coming years by many more runners.
I will ask you only one question. What kept these runners from crossing this threshold prior to May 6th, 1954. They were the same runners, with the same bodies. They tried their very best each and every time they competed. Yet, they never were able to do the impossible feat of running a 4 minute mile.
Think about this for a moment. The only thing that prevented them from reaching their human potential was a THOUGHT! We shouldn’t even use the term human potential since priori to that day, a four minute mile was outside the human potential, but Roger Bannister’s leap of faith made the impossible, possible.
"I leapt at the tape like a man taking his last spring to save himself from the chasm that threatens to engulf him."
I don't’ know about you, but I want to cross a finish like this in life. I refuse to let anyone limit me. I refuse to even define myself. I am the field of infinite possibilities. Are you ready to take responsibility for the achievements of a lifetime that await you? Shaolin-Do is about “doing it”, not watching it or reading it or “surfing” it. Let the others chat and argue about what is possible and not. I going to busy myself doing the impossible. Does this sound a bit hectic? Well let me leave you with a great quote for when you feel overwhelmed and want some pity.
“If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.”
Mario Andretti
To read his personal account of running this historic race go to:
http://faculty.rmwc.edu/tmichalik/4min.htm
(where also borrowed the pictures from)
Or purchase his book
by Roger Bannister |
