The author recounts running a marathon in high school despite a friend telling him he couldn't finish it. This motivated the author to prove his friend wrong. Though it was very difficult, the author persisted and finished the marathon purely out of pride. The author argues that people internalize limitations placed on them as children, but as adults they can reject those limitations and achieve more than they believed possible.

1. Reject All
Limitations!

2. One thing that can really motivate us is
when somebody tells us we can't do it.

3. When I was in high school, I'd decided
to run a marathon. A friend of mine
(who happened to be a semi-pro
soccer player, and therefore in MUCH
better shape than me) had seen me
out jogging.

4. He suggested we run the upcoming
marathon (about a week away). And
like a dumb high school kid, I said
"Sure!"

5. I told a close friend of mine and he
told me with absolute sincerity that I
shouldn't run, because I'd never finish,
and I might injure myself. While he
was only trying to help, he gave me a
surprising dose of motivation.

6. After about ten miles, I started to
REALLY feel like I'd had enough. But I
kept focusing on his voice, telling me I
couldn't do it.

7. I imagined finishing, and telling him so.
That was pretty much the ONLY thing
keeping me going. And believe me, it
was very hard. I never been (before or
since) as tired as I'd been from about
mile 15 onward.

8. And for a couple of weeks afterwards,
my legs were on fire every time I even
stood up.

9. But I finished.

10. Now, as a high school kid, this was
purely a matter of pride. I didn't get
any medals or money or any extra
affection from my girlfriend.

11. But is sure felt good.

12. The truth is that ALL of us have heads
that have been filled in with all kinds
of ideas, statements and beliefs by
well-meaning adults. They were trying
to protect us, like my friend was.

13. But since they've told us about our
supposed "limitations" over and over,
and during a time when we were VERY
dependent on their approval, we were
much more likely to accept their
"limitations" on what we can do as
fact.

14. But they are not. Not even close.

15. What's more, maybe they WERE right.
But that was when you were a kid. Ten
years old, or younger.

16. You're not a kid any more. And those
things aren't true any more.

17. Isn't it time you rejected them, once
and for all?

18. When you do, you'll be flabbergasted
by what you can REALLY do.

19. mindpersuasion.com/emotional-freedom/