Don't Let Others Place Limits on You

See Further than Those Around You

I’ve recently been obsessed with the new Neymar documentary on Netflix. I’ve already watched it three times. If you haven’t seen it yet, I suggest you get on that.

For those who don’t know, Neymar is one of the top soccer players in the world. He was blessed with incredible skill, but skill alone wasn’t enough to get him where he is now.

One segment of the documentary recounts a story from Neymar’s youth, when his father caught him slacking off. His father asked him why he didn’t run at practice. Neymar’s answer was that the other kids weren’t running, so he wasn’t either. Let’s just say, his dad did not like that answer.

His dad got mad. He told Neymar that if he wasn’t going to run with his team, he would run by himself. So, after that practice, Neymar ran alone. His dad said that it was Neymar’s job to motivate his teammates to be better than they were. Neymar needed to make his team believe they could all do what he did. So, Neymar would motivate his team by running more than they did. He would push his teammates by doing more than they would.

How different would things have been had Neymar continued to simply adopt the attitude of his lazy and unmotivated teammates?

Similarly, how different would you be if you didn’t let the people around you place their limits on your life?

We all know how that goes. Maybe you set a goal and as you strive for it, people close to you express their doubts. Or perhaps you try to give something up (junk food, alcohol, smoking, etc.) and your friends drag you back down. As you try to improve yourself, some people will always try to bring you back to their level. This is where your strength is ultimately tested.

Sometimes, you have to be able to see further than those around you.

You need to be able to see past the doubts of your family. You must move forward despite the criticism of your friends. This is much easier said than done. If you have seen a vision of who you could be, it is your duty to yourself to work towards that ideal.

You have to rely on your belief in yourself. You must have faith that you will accomplish whatever task you have set in front of you. It’s this self belief that sets you apart. This is what will push you forward in times of trouble, when the people around you don’t provide you with that belief.

People will always have things to say. “Why are you doing this?” “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “You should be doing this instead.”

These statements may truly be coming from a place of love, so it’s important to keep that in mind. Listen to them and weigh their words thoughtfully. Perhaps they know something you don’t. They probably do. But if you still believe you are on the right path, then move forward with resolve.

Understand that it is now your job to see further than those around you. Know that one day they will see what you see now, because you will show them it’s possible. But for now, you must provide yourself with the strength and faith necessary to accomplish your goals. You must be able to push yourself when no one is watching. Now is the time to grind in the shadows so that you will one day shine in the light.