The point is that achieving unrealistic goals requires faith that you will achieve them even if they’re far beyond what you consider yourself capable of doing. The most common area where faith is required is religion.

Think of it like this: religious people train their “faith muscle” regularly, which predisposes them to greater success as long as they choose appropriate goals.

I used pro athletes as an example because to become a professional athlete, let alone a champion like Manny, you need to believe that you will eventually make it. Logically speaking, it’s completely unrealistic that anyone would think they’d be a champion because the odds are so low.

Therefore, only people with a strong enough “faith muscle” have the potential to make it that far because of the inevitable challenges and setbacks that will happen along the way. Without being accustomed to using the power of belief, you’ll be bogged down with “reality” and are more likely to give up.

Hence, pro athletes are more likely to be religious. Especially champions. Super bowl winners, elite fighters, basketball heroes... all of them believe in God. Does that mean god is real and we should all be religious? Not necessarily. But you have to exercise your faith muscle regularly by believing in unprovable things. If you can think of a nonreligious way to do that, then I’m sure the world would reward you handsomely.