"Cela semble toujours impossible, jusqu'à ce que ce soit fait."

Sometimes, you're facing a challenge that feels, well, insurmountable. Think about the last time you had a daunting task ahead of you. Maybe it was something big, like finishing a marathon or something a bit more personal, like fixing a broken relationship. At first, it’s like staring up at a mountain, wondering how on earth you’re going to get to the top. That’s the essence of this quote—it’s about the feeling that a goal or challenge is too big to conquer until, suddenly, you’ve done it.

Nelson Mandela, the man behind this quote, knew a thing or two about facing seemingly impossible odds. He spent 27 years in prison during South Africa’s apartheid era, fighting against institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. To many, the idea of dismantling apartheid seemed like a pipe dream. Yet, Mandela and countless others didn't give up. When apartheid finally ended, what had once seemed impossible had become reality.

Let’s bring this idea down to earth with a concrete example. Take, for instance, the story of Roger Bannister. Back in the early 1950s, running a mile in under four minutes was considered beyond human capabilities. Experts said the human body just couldn't handle that kind of speed. Then, on May 6, 1954, Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. Once he did it, others followed suit. The barrier that had seemed unbreakable was suddenly broken—because someone proved it was possible.

So, how can you apply this to your own life? First, embrace the mindset that big goals are achievable, even if they seem far off. Break your goal into smaller, manageable pieces. If you’re writing a book, don’t think about the 300 pages ahead of you—just focus on writing one good page today. Celebrate those small victories, because each one is a step closer to the finish line.

Now, let’s put you in a relatable scenario. Imagine you’re in college, and there’s this massive project due at the end of the semester. It’s a group project, and right now, it feels like you and your team are trying to build the Eiffel Tower out of popsicle sticks. It’s overwhelming. But what if you break it down? Week one, you meet to brainstorm. Week two, you divide the tasks. Week three, you focus on research. And so on. Before you know it, piece by piece, you’re making progress. You’ll hit snags, for sure—maybe someone doesn’t pull their weight, or you hit a creative block. But each obstacle overcome is one less barrier between you and the finished project.

To wrap it up, next time you think something seems impossible, remember that every great achievement started with someone believing it could be done. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. Maybe it's not as big as ending apartheid or breaking the four-minute mile, but in your world, it’s a mountain worth climbing. And when you finally get there, you’ll look back and realize it wasn’t impossible after all. It was just waiting for you to do it.