Such Irony
Honor Thy Inferior
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
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- sp/so
This is sort of a spinoff from my "It's So Easy" thread. Someone had mentioned about college students finding what their limits were academically and I am interested in what your take on 'limits' is.
1. How do you know when you've reached your limit?
2. Do you find it easy or difficult to accept your own limitations?
3. Do you think that some people just don't have the talent to achieve certain things or do you believe that people can accomplish just about anything that they put their mind to?
#1
I know I've reached my limit when I've given 100% of my effort on something and have practiced extensively without showing any signs of improvement. An example would be from my own computer gaming experience. I used to be an avid Minesweeper player. I read a thread about peoples' best times and how they could beat the expert level in well under 2 minutes. I was determined to do that, I played and practiced alot but even after thousands of games, I've never gotten under 2 minutes. I hit a plateau around 2.5 minutes.
#2
If its in an area important to me, it can be disheartening to know that some things will not be possible for me to achieve at the level I want to. Or if it is possible, the amount of time and effort it would take would just be exhausting and not worth it in the end. If I don't care as much about it, then its far easier to accept it. Once I'm aware of my limitations though, it's actually kind of freeing in a way because I don't have to waste time attempting something that just isn't going to happen. I can channel my energy on something more in line with my strengths. I still wish I didn't have so many limitations though.
#3
Maybe this is a poorly worded question because I don't think the two mindsets are mutually exclusive. I do believe that most people can be decent at something if they practice it hard enough. However, I do think that there needs to be some level of innate talent to be extraordinary at something. I do think eventually, everyone will hit the 'wall' regardless of what it is but depending on your talent level and genetic makeup, that 'wall' will be different for people. For example, some people may be good enough at a sport to make the varsity high school team but they would never be professional level. Others may be able to play professionally but never be hall of famer quality.
I guess my viewpoint is closer to the former. I don't believe that anything is possible. Not everyone is going to be an olympic athlete, president of the USA, or Oscar winner no matter how hard we strive for those things. I think it can be kind of harmful psychologically to think anything is possible when it isn't.
1. How do you know when you've reached your limit?
2. Do you find it easy or difficult to accept your own limitations?
3. Do you think that some people just don't have the talent to achieve certain things or do you believe that people can accomplish just about anything that they put their mind to?
#1
I know I've reached my limit when I've given 100% of my effort on something and have practiced extensively without showing any signs of improvement. An example would be from my own computer gaming experience. I used to be an avid Minesweeper player. I read a thread about peoples' best times and how they could beat the expert level in well under 2 minutes. I was determined to do that, I played and practiced alot but even after thousands of games, I've never gotten under 2 minutes. I hit a plateau around 2.5 minutes.
#2
If its in an area important to me, it can be disheartening to know that some things will not be possible for me to achieve at the level I want to. Or if it is possible, the amount of time and effort it would take would just be exhausting and not worth it in the end. If I don't care as much about it, then its far easier to accept it. Once I'm aware of my limitations though, it's actually kind of freeing in a way because I don't have to waste time attempting something that just isn't going to happen. I can channel my energy on something more in line with my strengths. I still wish I didn't have so many limitations though.
#3
Maybe this is a poorly worded question because I don't think the two mindsets are mutually exclusive. I do believe that most people can be decent at something if they practice it hard enough. However, I do think that there needs to be some level of innate talent to be extraordinary at something. I do think eventually, everyone will hit the 'wall' regardless of what it is but depending on your talent level and genetic makeup, that 'wall' will be different for people. For example, some people may be good enough at a sport to make the varsity high school team but they would never be professional level. Others may be able to play professionally but never be hall of famer quality.
I guess my viewpoint is closer to the former. I don't believe that anything is possible. Not everyone is going to be an olympic athlete, president of the USA, or Oscar winner no matter how hard we strive for those things. I think it can be kind of harmful psychologically to think anything is possible when it isn't.