The limits to what we can achieve are mostly the product of our thinking. Limits are often self imposed because we either think we cannot do a thing, or because someone told us we cannot do a thing and we chose to believe it.

How many people do you know who could truly tell you what your limitations are ? The most probable answer is that nobody knows you as well as you do and therefore, nobody outside of you can be in a position to know what you can or cannot achieve. Your personal limits are where you decide they ought to be. They are not where other people think they are.

Achieving starts with believing. If you believe you can do a thing, chances are that you can do it. It may take time, but you can do it. Many times we ask “Why can’t I do or have that” instead of “What can I do in order to do or have that too”. A Chinese proverb says: "Don't complain about the darkness, light a candle" - it encourages us to take action rather than focusing on what we don't have or can't see at the moment.

Look around you. There thousands of examples of people who started with nothing and achieved wonderful things. Especially in the western world millions of people of average intelligence and education started with nothing and were able to create successful lives. Are these people smarter or more talented than you ? In terms of success, background and education are not deciding factors. Most of them one day simply started believing they could materialize their dreams and never stopped doing so.

You must do the things you think you cannot do.
-- Eleanor Rosevelt

Published with permission © 2009 Inspirized ®, http://www.inspirized.com

Author's Bio: 

Marc Frey has published several articles on how our thoughts affect our behavior. He and his team at Inspirized have spent years on researching both positive and negative cognitive and behavioral patterns and developed a unique and effective mind training approach. To learn more about the effects of positive thinking patterns on our behavior and how to train your mind to succeed visit inspirized.com.