Building a Life You Want—Even When It Feels Like Everything Says You Can’t
Building a Life You Want—Even When It Feels Like Everything Says You Can’t
By Sam Miller | Speaker, Coach, Author of I'MPOSSIBLE and I'MPOSSIBLE JOURNEY
From Rejection to Redirection: My Unexpected Path
Like many kids, I dreamed of making the middle school basketball team. I lived and breathed the sport—SportsCenter in the mornings, sports biographies after school, and long-range three-pointers in my driveway. Cerebral palsy limited my use of the left side of my body, but I believed I could become the best right-sided player around.
Reality had other plans. My name wasn’t on the roster after tryouts. I was crushed.
But instead of giving up, I pivoted. A mentor’s advice stuck with me: "It’s okay to get down—you just can’t stay there."
Resistance Builds Strength
Like lifting weights, adversity builds resilience. The pain is real, but so is the growth. Not making the team hurt—but it became the spark I needed.
I found another way to stay close to the game: announcing.
I became the voice of school sports. That microphone gave me purpose and presence. It became a powerful outlet for someone who still wanted to be in the game, even if not on the court.
Storytelling Heals and Connects
Another transformative space was speech team. As a competitive person, I constantly sought new ways to grow.
Then, my coach suggested something different: perform a monologue written by actress Geri Jewell about living with cerebral palsy. At first, I saw it as a competitive strategy. But it became so much more.
As I practiced, I connected more deeply with the material. The humor, honesty, and relatability opened something inside me.
For the first time, I was confronting my own story.
Learning to Embrace What Makes Me Different
Around the same time, after five orthopedic surgeries, I was offered a cosmetic procedure to improve the look of my left hand. The function wouldn’t change—only the appearance.
The choice was mine.
I declined.
Yes, I involuntarily clench my left hand. Yes, it pulls toward my chest when I’m stressed. But that’s part of me.
Some imperfections are visible. That doesn’t make them shameful.
What I Teach in My Coaching and Workshops
Today, I share this message with my coaching clients and workshop groups:
No matter what obstacles you face, there is almost always something you can do.
The key is to stop asking "What can't I do?" and start focusing on "What can I do, and where should I direct my energy?"
That mindset shift changes everything.
Self-Reflection for Your Journey
Use these questions to guide your own exploration:
Are you connected to what makes you feel alive?
If not, how might you get closer to it?What activity has been healing or affirming for you?
What made it meaningful?Who has helped you overcome fear or insecurity?
What did they say or do that mattered?
Final Thoughts: There Is Always a Way Forward
My story didn’t unfold the way I planned. But that’s true for most of us. Life rarely plays out in a straight line.
Still, you get to decide your next step. Even if a door closes, there’s almost always a window you can climb through.
Building a life you love is not about perfection. It’s about persistence, creativity, and believing that your voice, your story, and your dreams matter.
You’re not stuck. You’re being rerouted.
And that reroute might lead you somewhere extraordinary.
About Sam Miller
Speaker | Coach | Author of I'MPOSSIBLE and I'MPOSSIBLE JOURNEY
Adapted from "I'MPOSSIBLE: Life Lessons on Thriving with a Disability."
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What setback became a breakthrough in your life?
How have you redefined success after disappointment?
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