Before it was proven that the earth was round, it was a well-known"fact"that it was flat. This"fact"was so widely accepted that no one dared test it, because they thought if they did sail out beyond the horizon they would fall off the edge. In other words, because they believed it couldn't be done, it wasn't done.
　　That is, until Columbus questioned common knowledge and asked"what if?"This question literally expanded the boundaries2)of his country, changed history, and permanently altered accepted reality forever.
　　In spite of our tendency3)to think of reality as the non-negotiable4)basis of our experience, the definition5)of reality changes every time someone pushes the boundary conditions of conventional6)wisdom. When our perception7)of reality changes, our behavior changes accordingly, based on what is newly considered possible. When Columbus returned from the New World, a revised world map was drawn up and this began a new era of exploration and adventure.
　　Examples of the impossible being made possible can be found throughout history. When Chuck Yeager flew the X-1, he shattered8)the myth that there was such a thing as a sound barrier9). His training and instincts10), combined with the new technology of the day, not only enabled him to go beyond the speed of sound, but reinforced11)the fact that even alleged12)technological barriers can be overcome as well.
　　People often approach me in my seminars13)with statements such as, "I'll never be successful because my parents never supported me,""I don't have the right education to create wealth,"or"I can't pursue my dreams because I have too many obligations14)." I even hear, "I can't do what I want in my life because I don't have the money."These statements are clear indicators of the boundary conditions of their own thinking. They are accepting certain seeming truths proven true by their experience and coming up against the individual15)horizons beyond which they cannot conceive of venturing16).
　　Success follows beliefs such as, "I have all I need to be incredibly wealthy and massively successful."Warren Buffett, the most successful investor of all time, was once asked, "How have things changed for you now that you have incredible wealth?"He responded, "Well, I can afford anything I want..."Then he paused before adding, "...but then again, I always could."Even before Buffett had actually created the wealth he enjoys today, he already had the mind-set17)of wealth-and therefore the power to create it, because he saw the world in those terms."The reasonable man adapts himself to the world,"wrote Bernard Shaw, "the unreasonable17)one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." When we dare to go beyond our own internal boundary conditions, we discover a whole new world of possible futures for ourselves.
　　Let's play a little game. It's called the"What's Possible"game. The dictionary definition of possible is something"that can or may be, exist, happen, or be done." Each of the following questions I want you to answer yes or no. Has someone, somewhere on the planet today, achieved these things?
　　·Is it possible to have a million dollars in the bank?
　　·Is it possible to have a successful business?
　　·Is it possible to wake up excited about life?
　　·Is it possible to have happy, loving relationships?
　　·Is it possible to be fit and healthy?
　　·Is it possible to find your life's work and feel passionate18)about your life most of the time?
　　You may have experienced one of the side effects of this game as you answered the questions. This is called the"yes, buts."The"yes, buts"are responses such as"Yes, but that won't happen to me,"or"Yes, but that's because they had privileges19)I don't have,"and so forth.
　　Ignore the"yes, buts"for the time being. All I want you to do right now is open your mind to the possibility that the world is made up of a countless array of experiences from the very worst to the very best. As someone once said,"A mind is like a parachute20)-it works best when open."And here is my promise: If you open your mind, you will enjoy a more abundant and fulfilling21)life.
　　在地球沒有被證明是圓的以前,人們普遍接受的"事實"是:它是扁平的。這個"事實"得到了廣泛的認同,以至于沒人敢去驗證它是否正確,因為大家擔心如果航行的船只一跨過地平線,就會從邊界上掉下去。換句話說,因為大家都相信這件事情不能做,于是就沒有人去做。
　　這種狀況一直延續(xù)到哥倫布質疑這個常識的那一刻--"如果不是……會怎樣?"這個疑問徹底拓寬了他祖國的疆域,改寫了歷史,并且永久性地改變了人們所接受的現實。
　　盡管我們傾向于把現實視為累積經驗的毫無爭議的基礎,但是每當有人撼動了傳統智慧的邊界,現實的定義也就隨之改變。當我們認知的現實發(fā)生變化,我們的行為由于那些最新被認為是可能的東西,也會發(fā)生相應的變化。當哥倫布從新大陸返航,一張新的世界地圖就被繪制出來了,這張新地圖開創(chuàng)了一個勇于探險和冒險的新時代。
　　縱觀整個歷史,"不可能"變成"可能"的例子不勝枚舉。當查克·耶格爾駕駛X-1型飛機騰空而起的時候,他就顛覆了世界上存在聲障的神話。他的訓練和天分,加上當代的新技術,不僅幫助他超越了聲速,也再次證明了即使是所謂的技術障礙也能夠被克服。
　　在我的演講會上,經常有許多人走過來說"我永遠不會成功,因為我父母不支持我","我沒有受過良好的教育,無法創(chuàng)造財富",或者"我無法追求自己的夢想,因為我有太多的責任"。我甚至聽到有人說"我不能做自己想做的事,因為我沒有錢"。這種種言辭清楚地顯示出他們思維的邊緣效應,他們正在接受某種由自己的經驗證明的所謂"真理",遇到了他們不敢逾越的個人邊界。
　　其實,這樣的信念才能帶來成功:"我擁有能夠帶來無盡財富和巨大成功的所有一切。"有史以來最成功的投資人沃倫·巴菲特曾經被問到:"現在你有數不盡的財富,你是怎樣創(chuàng)造這一切的?"他回答說:"哦,我可以買下任何我想要的東西……"他頓了一下補充說:"……不過,我一直都可以。" 巴菲特在創(chuàng)造出現有財富之前,已經把這些財富裝進頭腦里了。"理性的人調整自己以便適應這個世界,"肖伯納認為,"不理性的人堅持改變世界以適應自己。因此所有的進步都有賴于不理性的人。" 當我們超越自己內心的邊界,就會發(fā)現一個全新的世界,里面有我們可能的未來。
　　讓我們玩一個小游戲,它叫"什么是可能的"。在字典里,"可能"的意思是"能夠或者也許存在、發(fā)生或者完成的東西",請你用"是"或"不是"來回答下面每個問題。今天,在這世界上的某個地方,是否會有人取得這些成就?
　　在銀行中有一百萬美元存款,可能嗎?
　　有一份成功的事業(yè),可能嗎?
　　帶著對生活的激情醒來,可能嗎?
　　擁有快樂、友愛的人際關系,可能嗎?
　　找到你一生要投身的職業(yè),并且在大多數時間里對生活充滿熱情,可能嗎?
　　在回答問題的時候,你也許會感受到這種游戲的負面效應。這種效應叫做"是的,但是"。"是的,但是"是諸如"是的,但是那不會發(fā)生在我身上",或者"是的,但那是因為他們有我沒有的特權"等等。
　　從現在開始忘掉"是的,但是"。現在你做的就是認識到這樣一種可能性,即世界是由無數從最好到最壞的經歷組成的。正如有人曾說過的:"頭腦就像降落傘--在打開的時候工作得最好。"我的承諾是:如果你能夠廣開思路,就會享受到更加豐富、更加充實的人生。