The answer ends with “So if possibility is only ever a thought, what is the downside of choosing to believe in the ones you desire?”

The downside in this situation (potential raise ceiling of 8%) of believing what I desire is that I actually negotiate myself out of the job offer if I put my foot down for higher. I want more money than 8%, but I would be willing to take it for this job for a variety of reasons. I don’t want to be in a situtation where I say 20% is my lowest (hoping to break the ceiling) and they say “sorry we can’t do that.” It’s about balancing my integrity with my need to advocate for myself.