KCW Tuesday, May 2

Tuesday, May 2

I've said before that belief is one of the most potent forces in the universe. It drives everything we do (or don't do). Scientifically, this is known as the "Pygmalion effect." Here's a real-life example of this playing out.

Roger Bannister believed that he could run a mile in under 4 minutes. The best runners in the world had been trying but without success. "Experts" said it was impossible, but Bannister believed otherwise (so-called experts are often pessimists). Doubt prevented others from achieving the goal. Belief fueled Bannister. On May 6, 1954, he ran a mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. The barrier had been broken, impossible had been accomplished, the experts had been proven wrong.

Here's where it gets extra crazy. To date, more than 1600 runners have achieved this goal. The current record is 3 minutes and 43.13 seconds. What was once considered impossible has become almost expected. It took one person believing to get others to believe. Belief multiplies.

The Pygmalion effect shows that when people believe in their abilities, they perform better, and when others believe in them, they perform even better. Our beliefs can shape our reality and influence our actions and outcomes. Our belief in others can do the same for them.

Getting better starts with believing better. Setting big goals is great, but those goals become a reality when we believe in ourselves and are surrounded by people who believe in us.

Limiting beliefs limit our potential.

Don’t put self-imposed barriers on yourself. Don’t listen to what the “experts” say you can’t do. Believe it, go for it.
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Keep chopping wood. 🪵🪓

-KevinK