101. It Can Be Done

What most holds us back is the belief that it cannot be done. We discover a new way of doing things but we immediately decide it’s too risky or it requires too much sacrifice. Others have already found success in the usual ways, and the new way seems unnecessary. Why take the risk when there is already a proven method?

But by thinking like this, we emphasize the costs of the new while ignoring the costs of the old. While there is always risk in trying something new, there is also risk in doing the same thing over and over again. The risk is that by sticking with the usual ways, we impede our potential growth — the very growth that could make our lives better than they presently are.

Our traditions and norms exist because they are useful. We’ve tried something repeatedly and discovered that it produces valuable results, so we’ve codified that method into the norms we now rely on. But by limiting our practices to what is reliable, we also limit ourselves. We abandon our ideas before we get a chance to see where they might take us.

The truth is that whatever is humanly possible can be done. Even those things that are not immediately feasible can be achieved, provided we are patient enough to expand our methods and technologies. It is by blazing new paths that we grow — both as individuals and as a collective whole — towards a better version of ourselves.

Doing things in a new way is never easy. We will face criticism and setbacks. We will feel anxious about transgressing cherished norms. We will worry constantly about the possibility of failure. We must not ignore these concerns. They are a reminder that what we are doing is difficult and that success is not guaranteed. At the same time, we must not cling to our concerns too tightly, for then they will limit the scope of our actions and inhibit our growth.

Through both self-compassion and the compassion of others, we can keep our attention free and open and our anxieties at a safe distance. By allowing ourselves the opportunity to open a new road, we also give ourselves a chance to create a more joyful world.