What’s Your 4-Minute Mile? Overcoming Limiting Beliefs to Achieve Your "Impossible"

You know the Roger Bannister story, right? It was believed that it was impossible to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. For years many tried, and all failed. Until 1954, when Bannister broke the 4-minute mile. The most interesting part of the story, though, is that after Bannister did it, it was only two months until another runner clocked a sub-4-minute mile in a race, and many more followed. 

The belief that it was impossible is what stood in the way. Not reality. Not actual, physical limitation. The perception of reality. The perception of limitation. See the difference?

What’s your 4-minute mile?

For a long time two of my 4-minute miles were a.) working for myself, and b.) earning 6 figures/year. Obviously, I knew both were physically possible, but I didn’t believe they were possible for me.

That (lack of) belief didn’t stop me from wanting them, but it did stop me from actually showing up for any plans I made to go for it, which always left me feeling ready to crawl out of my skin in frustration. I was like a kid with their face pressed to the ice cream shop window, believing there was no way I could just walk in the door and buy a scoop or two. Nevermind everyone else that I was seeing coming and going from the shop, ice cream in hand. 

I didn’t slowly inch closer and closer, until one way I looked up and realized I had reached the goal. Actually, I never made over $35k as someone else’s employee. I stayed stuck exactly where I was at until I got to the point where I believed I was capable of what I wanted to create. Until I believed in it, I couldn't go all in, and until I could genuinely go all in, my results didn’t budge.  

I did go on to “run” both of my original 4-minute miles (goals). And you know what came next? I reached my next results cap when I had maxed out the results I believed I was capable of creating. The next plateau came – surprise, surprise – when I had reached top of what I believed was possible for me.

Understand: Life didn’t shift. Reality didn’t shift. What was possible didn’t shift. The only changing factor was ME, and what I believed was true for me and about me.

What do you want?

What do you want for your life that you’re afraid to claim because you’re afraid it’s not possible for you? What do you wish you had but won’t make a legitimate plan, and GO FOR IT (AKA go all in), because you believe you can’t create the result you want?

• Want to quit your job and find something more fulfilling? Or something that pays better? Or something that aligns more with your internal values?
• Want to go back to school for a new skill, degree, or license?
• Want to launch a new business and quit your 9 to 5?
• Want to pivot in your business, and go a different direction entirely?
• Want to do less, AKA consistent white space in your calendar, some legitimately unscheduled hours to enjoy the life you’re working so hard to build?

Want to create the freedom you’re craving, so you can stop admiring it on Instagram and actually live it?

Then open your mind to the idea that reality isn’t limiting you, what you believe is possible is limiting you. YOU are limiting you. Understand: if you believe in your limitation, it’s real, but if you believe in your ability to create it, it’s also real. Does that make sense?

It’s time to level up.

Grab your journal: 

1. If you believed you could design a life that was exactly as you desired, what would you decide to create next?
2. How would you show up to create it, if you were playing life full out? If you knew you could create the result you desired, what would be your next steps?

Begin to build belief in your ability to be, do and have the words you write on the page. Visualize yourself being it, doing it, having it. See it in your mind. Experience it in your imagination. Begin to build your belief. Before you move your feet in the real world, build so much belief that it's possible for you that when you do actually move, it seems impossible to not bring it to life. 

Let's connect on IG – follow: @alirspicer – for daily reminders of the magic that’s possible for you. I believe in you, and I’m cheering for you.