Mindset story: What's more dangerous than the words it just can't be done?

Once there were two hunters who had rented an airplane to reach a distant hunting zone covered with miles and miles of dense trees and wildlife. Their journey took them far from civilization, where few dared to venture. The pilot, an experienced flier, was intrigued by their determination. He had transported many hunters before, but he had never seen anyone travel so far with nothing but their weapons and a few clothes. As they flew over the vast wilderness, the pilot couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. Almost halfway there, he finally asked the two hunters why they had chosen such an extreme challenge. One of the hunters, eager to share their story, explained that years ago, other hunters had doubted their ability to survive in the wilderness for weeks. They had insisted it was impossible. So, determined to prove them wrong, the two men had rented a plane, packed only the essentials, and ventured into the wild. That year, the hunter revealed, he had learned something that changed his life forever.

Curious, the pilot asked what that lesson was. The hunter smiled and explained that he had discovered a simple yet powerful truth: no one knows more than you what you are capable of achieving. He pointed out that the pilot, as the most experienced person on the plane, would never let someone else dictate what he could or couldn’t do. The pilot, understanding the wisdom in the hunter’s words, nodded in agreement and said, “You are right.” Soon after, they landed, and the two hunters set off on their adventure while the pilot returned to base. The weeks passed, and when the pilot returned to pick them up, he was astonished by their success. They had gathered an impressive collection of hunting trophies. However, as he assessed the weight, he hesitated and told them, “The plane won’t be able to carry all of your trophies. You will have to leave one behind.” One of the hunters immediately protested, reminding the pilot that the previous year, a different pilot had managed to carry a similar load. “Are you sure you can’t handle what the other one could?” he asked.

The pilot looked concerned and insisted that it was too risky. But then, the second hunter stepped forward and reminded him of the story he had shared during their journey to this place. He repeated the lesson of the story that no one knows better than you yourself what you are capable of achieving, and what not. With that being said the hunter patted the pilot on the shoulder and said “I believe you can do this, don’t let doubt get the best of you.” The pilot thought for a moment, then decided to trust in their reasoning. “If it worked last year, it should work this time too,” he said. With great effort, the plane took off, struggling under the extra weight. For a brief moment, it seemed as though they had defied the odds. But soon after, the overloaded aircraft lost altitude and crashed into the nearest hill.

Climbing out of the wreckage, the two hunters dusted themselves off and examined their surroundings. One of them turned to the other and asked, “Where do you think we are?” His friend looked around, recognizing the landscape, and calmly replied, “I think we are two miles south of the place where we crashed last year.”