“Everything seems impossible And everything seems possible.”
— Dejan Stojanović · 1959 –Source: Possibility (opening of the poem), presented on the author's official website, no date · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The couplet appears in this exact form as the opening of the poem "Possibility" on Dejan Stojanović's official website.
- What remains uncertain
- No firm record was found of the poem's first printed publication or an original date of appearance.
Understanding the quote
The two-line couplet captures how our outlook shapes reality: the same world can feel utterly closed or freshly open. Printed as the opening of the poem "Possibility" on Stojanović's site, the lines hinge on "seems"—possibility is shown as an attitude and a decision, not a promise.
The story behind it
Dejan Stojanović was born 11 March 1959 in Pecka (then Yugoslavia). He is a contemporary poet, essayist and aphorist whose work circulates widely online.
Going further
- The era
- In late 20th–early 21st century poetry culture, when short aphoristic lines spread widely on the web.
- The thinking
- This is an aphoristic, existential move: recognize that perception shapes possibility. Practically, it means testing assumptions and choosing an action even when odds feel slim.
- Key word
- Possibility: perceiving that an outcome can be created by changing attitude or action.
Three challenges to live it
In the app, you pick the one that fits your day, and in the evening you say how it went.
Write for 12 minutes a list of 10 actions you now think are unlikely, then add one concrete step to test each action today or this week.
'Seems' shapes reality. Turning 'seems impossible' into testable steps shifts attitude into decision and reveals real possibility.
Take a 20-minute walk, deliberately choose three new directions (a different street, a park path, some stairs) and jot one idea inspired by each turn.
The poem shows outlook shifts reality. Physically changing direction breaks mental patterns and reveals possibilities that felt hidden.
Call or message one person who sees things differently and ask: 'What do you think is possible that I see as impossible?' Take notes on their answers.
The lines hinge on 'seems.' Asking someone with a different outlook surfaces options your own stance may be censoring.
How do you act when everything seems impossible yet possible?
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