The Impossible Within You: Push Beyond Your Perceived Limits

Ancient Warriors, Modern Champions, and the Art of Transcending Self-Imposed Boundaries

The Reluctant Electrician

When I got accepted into the electrical apprenticeship in 1988, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to "make it."

I didn't grow up with a dad working on the car or the house, I didn't even have any tools, I had to buy everything new. Also I was small guy, only 5'4", 115 pounds, and an introverted book nerd who never even played sports.

How was I going to be able to do a hard, sweaty, physical job like construction, let alone a technical trade like electrical?

I shared this fear with one of my Hapkido senior instructors, Richard Carpenter.​

He pulled me aside and told me, "I'm going to give you a quote, a mantra. I want you to memorize it, say it to yourself every day, and even tell your boss the saying.

Here it is:

When he first told me this, it lit a fire under my butt, but sometimes I would doubt myself, thinking, "Who am I kidding?"

But you know what?

After a while, I would start believing it.

Then after a bit more time, I would be living it.

My bosses would give me the tough jobs, and sometimes I would think, "What did I get myself into!?"

But then I would find a way to get it done. Soon it became normal and a habit.

Over time, I laughed at the challenges my coworkers would complain about because to me, they weren't challenges at all.

That quote and the lesson I learned from it led to another saying I would often tell myself and later share with my apprentices, journeymen, and crew:

Because you'd be surprised at what you can accomplish if you really put yourself into it!

Transcending Self-Imposed Limitations

1. David Goggins: From Broken to Unbreakable

​David Goggins grew up in an abusive household, struggled with obesity, depression, and a learning disability. At one point, he weighed nearly 300 pounds, was working as a pest exterminator, and could barely run a quarter mile.

On paper, he had no business becoming what he eventually became: a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, Air Force Tactical Air Controller, ultramarathon runner, and world-record holder for pull-ups.

What separated Goggins wasn't exceptional genetic gifts or advantageous circumstances. It was his unflinching commitment to confronting his own limitations and systematically demolishing them.

He calls it "callusing the mind" a deliberately seeking out discomfort and hardship to build mental toughness.

"Most people operate at about 40% of their capability," Goggins frequently states. "When your mind is telling you you're done, you're really only 40% done." This insight mirrors the mantra I was given as both recognize that our perceived limitations are largely self-imposed.

Goggins developed what he calls the "accountability mirror" a practice of brutally honest self-assessment.

Each morning, he would look in the mirror and hold himself accountable for his goals and commitments. This practice prevented him from making excuses or rationalizing mediocrity.

His famous quote captures the essence of transcending limitations:

The voice that tells us we can't, we shouldn't, or we'll fail is precisely the voice we must learn to recognize and override.

2. Admiral William H. McRaven: Small Victories Leading to Impossible Feats

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​Admiral McRaven, a former Navy SEAL commander who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, understands how ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. In his famous University of Texas commencement speech and subsequent book "Make Your Bed," McRaven distilled wisdom from his SEAL training.

"SEAL training was a great equalizer," McRaven notes. "Nothing mattered but your will to succeed. Not your color, not your ethnic background, not your education and not your social status."

This democratization of achievement is what makes his insights so powerful as they apply universally.

McRaven's approach to transcending limitations begins with small victories. "If you want to change the world, start by making your bed," he advises.

This seemingly trivial task accomplishes something profound: it provides an immediate sense of achievement that can propel you through greater challenges.

During "Hell Week" in SEAL training, instructors would tell the exhausted candidates that they could quit anytime, just ring the bell three times. McRaven observed that those who focused on getting through one evolution, one meal, or even just one hour at a time were the ones who succeeded. They compartmentalized the seemingly impossible task into manageable segments.

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do," McRaven says, echoing Eleanor Roosevelt. "The power of one person to motivate others and to inspire them comes from the simple belief that one man or woman can change the world by their actions."

3. The Science of Breaking Barriers: How We Surpass Our Limits

The psychological concept of "self-efficacy," developed by psychologist Albert Bandura, explains why mantras like "I'm a ball of fire!" actually work.

Self-efficacy is our belief in our capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. When we repeatedly tell ourselves we can accomplish difficult tasks, we literally rewire our cognitive expectations.

Neuroscience confirms this through the understanding of neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. When we push beyond perceived limitations, we create new neural pathways that make previously "impossible" tasks become routine.

The "central governor theory" proposed by exercise physiologist Dr. Tim Noakes, who has run over 70 marathons and ultramarathons, suggests that fatigue is not simply a physical state but largely a perception created by the brain to protect the body from potential harm. Our physical limitations are often preemptive safety mechanisms rather than actual boundaries of capability.

Studies of elite performers across domains consistently show that deliberate practice of pushing just beyond current abilities is what creates extraordinary performance. The discomfort zone, that space just beyond what feels possible, is precisely where growth occurs.

This explains why the apprentice electrician who takes on the "toughest, dirtiest, most important job" eventually finds those challenges routine. It's not that the tasks became easier; the person became stronger.

4. The Warrior's Philosophy: Ancient Wisdom on Transcendence

The concept of transcending limitations has deep roots in warrior traditions across cultures.

The Bushido code of the samurai emphasized "fudoshin" (immovable mind 不動心) is the ability to remain calm and determined regardless of circumstances.

This mental state allows warriors to perform beyond normal human capabilities when facing overwhelming odds.

The Stoics of ancient Greece and Rome, particularly Marcus Aurelius, advocated for a similar mindset:

This perspective transforms obstacles from barriers into opportunities for growth.

​Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary Japanese swordsman, wrote in "The Book of Five Rings":

This reflects the electrical apprentice's journey â by deliberately practicing difficult tasks, extraordinary performance becomes natural.

What separates warrior wisdom from mere positive thinking is its unflinching realism. Warriors don't deny difficulties; they embrace them as the very material from which strength is forged.

As Epictetus taught:

5. The Ripple Effect: How Transcending Limitations Transforms Everything

When we break through the artificial ceiling of our perceived limitations, the effects extend far beyond the immediate achievement.

At the individual level, we develop what psychologists call "learned industriousness," the tendency to find hard work rewarding in itself. This creates a virtuous cycle where challenging tasks become intrinsically motivated rather than dreaded.

In team environments, the person who consistently tackles and conquers difficult challenges becomes a standard-bearer. Their example silently challenges others to question their own self-imposed limitations. As Admiral McRaven observed, courage is contagious.

Societally, most significant human achievements began as "impossible" tasks. From the four-minute mile (once considered physically impossible) to landing on the moon, our collective progress depends on individuals willing to attempt what conventional wisdom deems unattainable.

Perhaps most importantly, transcending limitations in one domain transfers to others. The electrical apprentice who discovers they can handle the toughest jobs develops a template for approaching challenges in relationships, education, and personal growth.

As Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, concluded:

This is ultimately the greatest power we possess â the ability to redefine what's possible through our response to challenges.

Putting It On the Mat: The Warrior's Practice

Assessment: Where Are Your Self-Imposed Limits?

Begin by conducting an honest inventory of your perceived limitations.

In what areas do you tell yourself "I can't," "I'm not the type who," or "That's impossible for someone like me"?

Write these down without judgment. Next, examine the evidence for these beliefs.

Are they based on actual failed attempts, or assumptions you've never tested?

Finally, identify one limitation that, if overcome, would most dramatically improve your life.

Ask yourself:

Three Levels of Practice

Beginner Level: The Daily Impossible Choose one small daily action that pushes just beyond your comfort zone. This might be making one cold call if you fear rejection, doing five push-ups if you consider yourself "not athletic," or speaking up in one meeting if you see yourself as "not a leader." The key is consistency of doing this daily action regardless of how you feel. Create a visual tracker and mark each day you complete your "impossible" task.

Intermediate Level: The Weekly Challenge Once weekly, take on a task that genuinely intimidates you. Follow my original mantra and volunteer for the toughest, most important task available. Approach it with the mindset that failure is information, not identity. Document both your process and results, paying special attention to the gap between what you feared would happen and what actually occurred.

Advanced Level: The Quarterly Breakthrough Every three months, attempt something you genuinely believe might be beyond your capabilities. This could be a physical challenge, a professional goal, or a creative project. The key is that it should feel audacious enough to trigger resistance. Develop a specific preparation plan, find an accountability partner, and commit publicly to the attempt.

Micro-Practices for Daily Implementation

1. Morning Mantra: Create your own version of "I'm a ball of fire!" that resonates with you. Repeat it with physical energy (stand tall, chest out) every morning.
2. Discomfort Alarm: Set a random alarm during the day. When it sounds, do something slightly uncomfortable (strike up a conversation with a stranger, drop for 10 push-ups, tackle that task you've been avoiding).
3. Victory Journal: Each night, record three instances where you pushed past resistance, no matter how small.
4. Reframe Language: Eliminate "I can't" from your vocabulary. Replace with "I haven't yet" or "I'm learning to."

Overcoming Resistance and Obstacles

When resistance arises and it will recognize it as a signpost pointing toward growth. The tasks that trigger the strongest resistance often hold the greatest potential for transformation.

Create implementation intentions: "When I feel like quitting, I will do just one more."

Develop a physical anchor (like pressing your thumb and forefinger together) that reminds you of your commitment when motivation wanes.

Remember: Discomfort is temporary, but the expansion of your capabilities is permanent.

Your Challenge: The Next 30 Days

1. Select and memorize a personal breakthrough mantra
2. Share your commitment with one person who will hold you accountable
3. Volunteer for the most challenging task available to you at least twice weekly
4. Document your journey, noting the progressive ease of formerly "difficult" tasks
5. After 30 days, identify what previously seemed impossible that now feels within reach

As you practice transcending limitations, keep my second mantra in mind:

The greatest discovery awaits you as the revelation that your capabilities far exceed what you've been conditioned to believe.

Are you sicked and tired of being surrounded by losers, lemmings and Luddites?

Then join the Leader's Dojo, where you not only discover how badass you are but you're surrounded by other badass warriors and leaders who will help you to be even better.

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