The Power Of Belief Is Mindblowing. Here’s The Proof.

What if your limiting beliefs are the biggest obstacle?

Whether you believe you can or not, you’re right — Henry Ford

The young man in the picture is Roger Bannister.

The man who got famous for having made the seemingly impossible possible and triggered an incredible psychological phenomenon by doing so.

The Brit was born in 1929. He started running in 1946 and won the bronze medal in the 800m race at the European Championships just four years later.

He would go down in history another four years later for his performance in the double distance.

In 1953, the world record over one mile was 4:01.4 min, set in 1945.

Bannister’s goal was to break that time and to become the first person to run the mile in less than four minutes.

However, the best runners had already failed to break this mark for so long that even sports scientists and doctors were of the opinion that it was impossible to do so.

On May 6, 1954, the historic event took place at the University of Oxford’s athletics facility on Iffley Road. Bannister actually did it, setting a new world record in the mile with 3:59.4.

The Roger Bannister Effect

What happened in the period after this record is a testament to the incredible power of our belief. And a testament to how much limiting belief can hold us back.

Just 46 days after Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mark, John Landy, an Australian runner, became the second man to break four minutes in the mile. In the following year, three runners broke the four-minute barrier in a single race.

It was as if the curse had been lifted. Other runners began to believe that it was actually possible, which enabled them to do it.

Today the world record stands at 3:43 min and thousands of runners have managed to break the magic mark of 4 minutes.

What Do We Learn From This?

What we learn from this fascinating story is that our belief is incredibly powerful. No matter what it is you want to achieve. Your chances are much higher if you believe you can do it.

Maybe you can make someone who has achieved what you would like to achieve your Roger Bannister.

If that person has done it, why shouldn’t you be able to do it as well?

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