Limitations of Your Own Making

Mike Corthell

''Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what's a heaven for?''

- Robert Browning

In the 20th century athletes attempted to run a mile in four minutes but it seemed to be an impossibility. Then on May 6, 1954, an English runner, Roger Gilbert Bannister ran the mile in 3:59.4 minutes to set a new world record. Directly afterward, runner after runner broke Bannister’s record. Many times we accept artificial barriers without a second thought. Set your goals high. Don’t settle for less. Don't place limitations. Many of us never reach the level of achievement that we are capable of because we don’t challenge ourselves.

Robert Browning may have said it best: “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”