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 How To Open Yourself to Unlimited Possibilities

There are moments in life when one sentence opens a door. For me, recently, it was a line in a song — “Why not ask for more?” That simple question, echoing through a Leonard Cohen song, became a reminder that life expands or contracts according to how much possibility we allow ourselves to believe in.

Listening to New Stories in New Ways

In the past year or so, I've started listening to audiobooks rather than reading paper books. And I've thus started to listen to some of the classics that I have never read — or at least that I don't remember having read.

I just finished Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, which, if you haven't read, I highly recommend. It's a great example of being open to unlimited possibilities and of not accepting defeat or letting blockages stop us. They may slow us down as we are required to readjust our direction, but they don't have to stop us.

I think I can tell you a bit of the story without it being a spoiler. Basically, the main character, Phileas Fogg, who is usually a very fastidious man, gets into a discussion with the men at his club — the story takes place in 19th-century England. He makes a bet with the other members that he can make it around the world in 80 days.

Now, in the 21st century, that's not such a big deal. But, in those days they had no planes, and even trains were non-existent in some areas, and travel over the oceans had to be done by ship. So his clubmates scoffed, saying there was no way he could do it in 80 days. And they made a bet, and off he went — he and his servant.

Just for additional info: the bet was for 20,000 British pounds, which these days would be the equivalent of two or three million U.S. dollars. So it wasn't a small bet.

Looking for Possibilities, Not Dead Ends

As the story progressed and as I listened to it, it brought so much to the forefront of my thoughts the fact that we should never accept, when we face resistance or problems in the realization of our dreams, that there is no alternative. So many times in the story there are hurdles, problems, and complications, yet every time Mr. Fogg perseveres and never gives up. He always expects and looks for solutions and alternatives to what he originally had planned.

It was a very inspiring read. It's entertaining and fun, yet it also gives some deep life lessons.

And it's also very interesting to me to see the correlation between what I'm reading or hearing or discovering and what I'm going through in my life. The Universe always finds ways to send us the information, lessons, and inspiration we need. And the book was part of that message.

Messages From the Stars and the Stories We Read

I am a subscriber to a website and podcast called SiriusJoy, which is basically an astrology website, but it's so much more. The astrological emphasis this week was on being open to unlimited possibilities, and this was the theme I had already intuited a few days earlier.

As I read Around the World in 80 Days, this message and lesson came to me again and again. And of course, it was also manifesting in my life. As I kept affirming that I was open to unlimited possibilities, more of them kept showing up.

This is such an important lesson and guidance for us to adopt. A lot of us were raised or trained not to expect too much. As Leonard Cohen states in his song, Bird on the Wire: as he was walking down the street, a beggar said to him that he “must not ask for so much.” And as he kept walking, a woman standing in her doorway called out to him, “Why not ask for more?” And that’s the question that I’m relating to you.

(Please note. Some versions of the song do not include this stanza, but it is there in numerous versions sung by Leonard Cohen himself.)

Why Not Ask for More?

Why not ask for more? That's a really good question. Sometimes we limit ourselves by thinking we either don't deserve more or don't have the talent, or whatever else is needed, to have more. I'm not speaking here of material things, though they are part of it, but more importantly of having more joy, more love, more happiness, more health, etc.

Part of being open to unlimited possibilities is believing in ourselves. Believing that we can achieve our dreams. Believing that we are good enough to have what we want and to create what we want.

I remember an expression that was used when I was a child and that my aunt repeated to me later in life: that we were made for a “small loaf of bread.” In other words, we only deserved a small loaf of bread, or just the crumbs of a big one. And that can be interpreted as: we were meant to be poor; we were meant to not have what we wanted or what we dreamed of, whether because we didn't deserve it or just because of who we were -- somehow less than.

What a bunch of hogwash, to put it bluntly. We deserve to be happy. We deserve to be loved. A child or baby should not have to do anything or behave in any particular way to be loved by their parents: it should be automatic. You're a child and your parents love you. End of story.

You Are a Child of the Universe

In the same way, we children of the Universe (or God, or Creator, or whatever other term you prefer) are loved, and we deserve to be happy, no matter what.

In case you're not familiar with the poem Desiderata — and even if you are, it's always good to be reminded — here's a quote from that poem, which is another classic:

“You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”

The author of this timeless piece of wisdom is Max Ehrmann, and it was written in 1922.

In a book entitled The Desiderata of Happiness, a collection of various poems by the same author, here is another, entitled "Whatever Else You Do." Here is a portion of what it says:

“Whatever else you do or forbear,
impose upon yourself the task of happiness;
and now and then abandon yourself  
to the joy of laughter.”

That's the opening paragraph, and the closing is as follows:

“And that men, treading with restless feet their many paths,
may yet find refuge from the storms of the world
in the cheerful house of love.”

And I will share yet another piece from one of his poems called Love and Faith. It ends with these words:

“May I keep this vision of the castle ever before my eyes,
and the belief in my heart that the journey is worthwhile,
and the castle aglow in the windows not all illusion.”

Inspiration That Lights the Way

I'm having so much fun flipping through these poems that I'm going to share one last one with you. This one is entitled A Prayer:

“Let me not follow the clamor of the world, but walk calmly in my path.
Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am;
and keep ever burning before my vagrant steps that kindly light of hope.”

Inspiration and encouragement are all around us. But most importantly, we must tune in and let it come from inside of us as well. We need not be dependent on other people giving us hope or giving us confidence. If it does not reside within us, if we don't create it within us, then it is not truly ours. And we won't see it reflected in the people who love us either.

Maybe confidence and faith is lent to us by others for us to see what we are capable of creating — just like a child who is learning to write looks at the letters the teacher wrote and then copies them. But the goal is, after having tuned in to other people's inspiration and faith, to tap into our own self, our own wisdom, our own guidance and let that be the voice that speaks to us, that encourages us, that says: you've got this, you can do this, go for it.

Nature’s Abundance and Our Own

When I look at nature, I am always so impressed by its abundance and its unlimited possibilities. When I was living in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on the property there were numerous apple trees. Now, to my knowledge, most of these trees had not been planted. They were wild trees that had developed from cross-pollination, from seeds dropped by birds, or maybe just the wind and storms moving apples around and creating new trees.

The wonderful thing about this property, where there must have been at least 50 apple trees, is that every tree had a different flavor of apples. There were no trees that were the same. Some were sweet and juicy, others were tart, others were small, others were big. Every tree had its own personality and was its own unique gift to the world.

And we are the same. Just as each apple tree may look like another apple tree, we may look like other human beings. But our fruit — our creations, our dreams fulfilled — if we are true to ourselves, will be very different from anyone else's dream, from anybody else's vision.

Refusing to Live by Other People’s Limits

And that's why it's so important to be open to unlimited possibilities. Do not limit yourself to other people's thoughts or beliefs, expectations, or limitations. And of course, it's also important not to let our own limitations, fears, and doubts limit us.

We need to open our heart and our vision to unlimited possibilities, to dreams that we might not even know existed until they somehow found their way into our heart and into our thoughts. And rather than negate them by saying, “Oh, I can't do that,” “Oh, that's not possible,” or “Oh, I don't have the money or the talent to do that,” we need to allow the Universe to support us in our dreams, whatever they are.

Follow your heart, follow your vision, follow what makes you smile and feel excited about the future.

I don't believe we have been placed on this Earth to live a carbon copy of someone else's life. We are each unique, and our lives are meant to be unique as well. When we live our truth, when we express our truth with love and compassion, when we listen to the desires that come forth from our inner being, we are on the path to creating a world of unlimited possibilities, of unlimited joy, of unlimited happiness.

It is there, available for us, if we just open the door and step through — past the fears, the doubts, the “what ifs,” and the “maybe nots.”

The Only One Who Can Stop You Is You

No one is the master of our fate except our own selves. No one is the boss of you except you, unless you give them permission to do so. No one can stop you from being happy and from following your dream. Only you have the power to do that.

And just as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days always looked for a way forward, you need to always look to possibilities to get past any problems or hurdles that come up on your path. Do not accept “no” for an answer. Do not accept it if others tell you it's not possible.

If you have the dream, if you have the vision, then it is possible. But your dream, your vision, is only possible for you. It's not possible for the other people who tell you it can't be done, because it's not their dream, it's not their vision, it's not their purpose.

Whatever your heart desires for you to do, trust yourself, trust your heart, trust the Universe and go for it.

A Door Only You Can Open

Possibilities don’t arrive because we chase them. They arrive because we create space for them. The moment we stop shrinking who we are, the moment we stop editing our dreams to make them “reasonable,” life has room to surprise us.

So ask yourself gently: What possibility am I finally ready to say yes to?

Remind yourself often: I am open to unlimited possibilities.

And so be it.

Recommended Books:

* Around the World in 80 Days
by Jules Verne
A timeless adventure classic following Phileas Fogg as he races around the globe on a daring wager. Filled with unexpected challenges, determination, and ingenuity, this story reminds us that possibilities expand when we stay open to new paths and solutions.
Order on Amazon

* The Desiderata of Happiness
by Max Ehrmann
A collection of Max Ehrmann’s most cherished poems, including the beloved “Desiderata.” These writings offer gentle wisdom, inner strength, and encouragement, making this book a grounding companion for anyone seeking peace, clarity, and a deeper connection to life’s purpose.
Order on Amazon

Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal empowerment, and inner well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of love. joy, and creativity.

ARTICLE RECAP

This article explores how opening your heart to unlimited possibilities begins with believing in your own worth. When you stop shrinking your dreams and let go of old limitations, the Universe meets you halfway. Trust your inner guidance and welcome the opportunities that arise when you say yes to yourself.

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