Impossible Redefined. | Sanjay Roshan | TEDxThe Lawrence School Lovedale

Quick Overview

Impossible is primarily a misunderstood word representing the limits of current imagination rather than absolute physical constraints, as subjective impossibilities stem from habit, self-doubt, and societal conservatism, while objective impossibilities are fixed by laws like physics, and challenging the former is essential because existence itself defies astronomical odds.

Key Points: The speaker defines impossible as frequently meaning, "I can't imagine this right now," noting that concepts like mobile phones were once fiction but are now fact, suggesting impossibility is often a matter of time. Two kinds of impossibilities exist: subjective, like the feeling of life being too heavy to carry on, and objective, such as perpetual motion or exceeding the speed of light, which are dictated by the laws of physics. Difficulty is often mistaken for impossibility, leading individuals like Pedro (who failed at making pasta) to give up, which the speaker argues is flawed logic because one compares oneself to experts who have spent years mastering their craft. Labeling something impossible transforms the temporary state of "I can't do this right now" into the permanent state of "I am incapable," causing people to settle into the warmth of certainty. Society reinforces subjective impossibilities by being conservative and preferring the safe path, drawing rigid boundaries that kill creative thought, as seen historically with opposition to the Earth being round. The speaker shares a personal experience of believing speaking on stage was impossible due to shaking and stammering, but overcame it through a crucial shift in perspective. The final message implores the audience to ask "So what?" regarding failure—So what if I overcook the pasta?—because the attempt itself is a magnificent answer to a world that often says no.

Context: Sanjay Roshan delivers a TEDx talk redefining the concept of 'impossible,' which is often used superficially to discourage or define limits. The talk explores the distinction between subjective impossibilities, rooted in personal perception, self-doubt, and societal pressure, and objective impossibilities, which are fixed by fundamental laws of nature. Roshan uses the narrative of a character named Pedro, who gives up on his dream of becoming a chef after initial failures, to illustrate how difficulty is commonly misconstrued as impossibility.