The Optimistic View In The Saying: Never Say Never

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The saying - Never Say Never - is a hypocritical statement. Why? Because it commits the sin it forbids. It restricts its readers by using the same word 'never' it advises being avoided. In this way, the expression has already said the forbidden word 'never' when saying: never say never! In other words, we can say that it doesn't practice what it preaches. Nevertheless, those hypocritical shortfalls mean nothing compared to the massive benefits of the optimistic view learned from the phrase, and in this article, we'll delve to argue in favor of it.

Sir Roger Bannister and the Limitless Human Potential: A Never Say Never Prototype

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister made history by becoming the first person to run a mile in under four minutes. On that day when the announcer declared that the time was 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds, the cheers and uproar from the crowd of onlookers went wild in such a way that the last words of the announcer were not heard. This achievement was a monumental moment in the world of sports around the world and proved that the impossible was indeed possible. Prior to Bannister's record-breaking run, many experts believed that it was physically impossible for a human being to run a mile in under four minutes. However, Bannister's accomplishment shattered this belief and opened the door for others to follow in his footsteps and he instantly became a never-say-never prototype.

Fast forward, on 12 October 2019, in the city of Vienna, Austria, a Kenyan legend, Eliud Kipchoge made history by being the first human in history to run a sub-two-hour in an unofficial marathon race. Kipchoge ran a 42.195 KM distance in a remarkable time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 40.2 seconds. Kipchoge's mantra has been always that: 'No Human Is Limited'. And here's what he said after becoming the first ever person to run a marathon in under two hours, 'It's a great feeling to make history in sports after Sir Roger Bannister in 1954. I'm the happiest man in the world to be the first human to run in under two hours and I can tell people that No Human Is Limited. I expect more people all over the world to run under two hours after today.' Up until 2023, Kipchoge holds a record of running four out of six fastest marathons in history.

Sir Roger Bannister's and other athletes' achievement serves as a powerful reminder that we should never say never when it comes to our limitless potential. Their determination and hard work proved that with the right mindset and training, we can accomplish things that were once thought of by experts as impossible. And surprisingly, those close to Bannister, said he achieved that with minimal training as he was spending much time in his neurologist profession. He was only intensifying training when competition arrived. And it's worth noting that, he did set a personal goal to be the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. Henceforth, Bannister's record-breaking run was not only a triumph for him personally, but it also showed that human potential is indeed limitless.

In the years following Bannister's achievement, many runners have broken his record, but his legacy lives on as a symbol of human potential. In fact, his record was broken down 46 days later by his rival athlete, John Landy. But his determination and perseverance continue to inspire people to push themselves to new heights and to never give up on their dreams.

Bannister's achievements and other heroes teach us that we should never underestimate our own abilities. With hard work, dedication, and the right mindset, we can accomplish great things. So, let us take inspiration from Roger Bannister and other heroes and never say never when it comes to our own limitless potential and believe we can command success regardless of what we're going through.

Roger Bannister's achievement in breaking the 4-minute mile is a testament to limitless human potential. It teaches us that with dedication and perseverance, we can achieve the impossible. Let's again take inspiration from Bannister's legacy and strive to push ourselves to new heights in all dimensions of our own lives.

The Power of Positive and Possibility Thinking: Why You Should Never Say Never:

National Gallery of Ireland, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Have you ever heard the saying "never say never"? It's a phrase that encourages us to keep an open mind and stay optimistic, no matter what challenges we may face. But why psychologists are saying it is so important to adopt this mindset?

First of all, let's look at the flip side of the phrase: saying "never" is essentially giving up on something before we've even given it a chance. It's like declaring defeat before we've even entered the battle. This kind of negative thinking can be incredibly damaging to our goals and aspirations.

On the other hand, by refusing to say "never," we are leaving room for the possibility of success. We are telling ourselves that anything is possible and that we should never give up on our dreams. This kind of optimism can be incredibly powerful and can help us overcome even the most difficult of obstacles. Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington who is known for defeating the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, was quoted as saying: 'Victory is the ability to fight five minutes longer than any other army in the world.'

But it's not just about staying positive for the sake of it. When we adopt an "anything is possible" mentality, we are more likely to take action toward our goals. We are more willing to put in the hard work and dedication required to achieve success because we know it is within our reach.

So the next time you find yourself thinking "I could never do that," remember that you are much more capable than you give yourself credit for. Don't let negative thoughts hold you back – embrace the power of "never say never" and go out there and make your dreams a reality!

The Sky's the Limit: How 'Never Say Never' Can Help You Achieve Your Goals:

It's easy to get caught up in the negativity of the world – to believe that our dreams are out of reach and that we will never be able to accomplish what we truly desire. But this kind of thinking is not only damaging to our motivation and self-esteem, but it is also simply not true based on humanity's record-breaking historic achievements.

As the saying goes, "never say never." This phrase encourages us to keep an open mind and stay optimistic, no matter the challenges we might face. By refusing to say "never," we are telling ourselves that anything is possible and that we should never give up on our goals.

But it's not just about being positive for the sake of it. When we adopt an "anything is possible" mentality, we are more likely to take action toward our goals. We are more willing to put in the hard work and dedication required to achieve success because we know that it is within our reach.

Never Say Never in the Context of Football Game:

PeeJay, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Line-ups for the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey on 25 May 2005.

One notable example in the world of football that demonstrates the truth of the saying "never say never" is the match between Liverpool and AC Milan in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final.

Going into the match, Liverpool was considered the underdogs, with many people doubting their ability to come out on top against the strong and successful AC Milan team. But in a stunning turn of events, Liverpool managed to come from behind and win the match, with a final score of 3-3 (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties).

This is how the match unfolded. AC Milan's Maldini volleyed in the fastest final goal in first minute of the game. 39' minutes later Crespo scored from a lighting-quick counter attack. Then one minute before half-time, Crespo scored again in the 44' minute. Up to the half-time the scoreboard read Liverpool 0 - 3 AC Milan. By all counts, it was considered the gameover. 

But the dramatic comeback started to take shape in the 54' minute when Liverpool's Gerrard headed in Riise's cross to score the first goal for Liverpool. Then the next six minutes is the time which AC Milan will never forget because, in the 56' minutes, Smicer's low drive evaded past Dida and hit the back of the net to make 2 goals for Liverpool. Then the pitch drama was completed at 60' minutes when Alonso scored from a penalty rebound to make the scoreboard read Liverpool 3 - 3 AC Milan.

The scores remained the same during the extra time. Then the winner was decided by taking the penalty shootouts. Ultimately, Liverpool won 3-2 after Shevchenko's penalty was saved by Liverpool's goalkeeper Dudek. 

This match often referred to as the "Miracle of Istanbul," is a prime example of why it is so important to never say never. The Liverpool team never gave up, even when they were trailing by three goals in the second half. They kept fighting and pushing forward, believing that they could still come out on top. And in the end, their determination and refusal to give up paid off in a miraculous victory.

This match serves as a reminder that no matter how unlikely it may seem, anything is possible if you never give up and always keep pushing forward. As the saying goes, "never say never" – you never know what amazing things you may be able to accomplish if you adopt it in your mindset. 

Never Say Never: A Lesson from the Prophet Elisha and the Skeptical King's Officer:

In the biblical story of Elisha and the King's officer in 2 Kings 6:24-7:19, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude, no matter what challenges we may face. This story is a great demonstration of the saying: never say never.

The King's officer, it seems, was a bit of a skeptic. When Elisha prophesied that the prices of flour and barley would significantly decrease the next day, the officer was having none of it. "That could not happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!" he declared. By implication he was saying - never! 

He confidently declared that because on that day in Samaria's markets, as the severity of the famine escalated, the donkey's head was sold for eight pieces of silver, and a cup of dove's dung was sold for five pieces of silver. On the other hand, Elisha prophesied that the next day, seven liters of choice flour will be sold for only one piece of silver and fourteen liters of barley grain will be sold also for the same - only one piece of silver.

Elisha was not discouraged by the officer's negative thinking. "You'll see it happen with your own eyes," he responded, "but you won't be able to eat any of it." Oh snap! Elisha was not about to let a little thing like skepticism get in the way of his positive attitude and belief in the power of his prophecy. He believed that since his prophecy was backed up by the LORD himself, then it will certainly happen no matter how unlikely it may seem.

And as it turns out, Elisha was right. The prices of flour and barley did significantly decrease the next day, just as he had said. The moral of the story? Don't be like the skeptical King's officer – embrace the power of "never say never" and stay positive and optimistic, no matter what challenges may come your way. Who knows what amazing things you may be able to accomplish with your unwavering faith?

So the next time you think, "I could never do that," remember that the sky is the limit and that you are much more capable than you give yourself credit for. Don't let negative thoughts hold you back – embrace the power of "never say never" and go out there and make your dreams a reality!

Here's the recorded YouTube video depicting the historic moment when Sir Roger Bannister ran a mile in under four minutes and set a new world record. The interesting thing about this video clip is that the voiceover of the video's commentary was narrated by the man himself: Sir Roger Bannister.