July 14, 2017

048: LeBron James, Serena Williams & Cristiano Ronaldo Have Nothing On Blind Extreme Athlete Erik Weihenmayer Part 2

So much of what motivates us and demotivates us is happening way below the surface. How do we work slowly towards the courage it takes to make great things happen in our lives? How do we get ourselves out of the zoos of our own creation? What can we learn from animals about resilience? In this second part of our interview, Erik Weihenmayer shares more of his great story, and what keeps him going.

People are controlled by their fears rather than being driven by hope, and that can a dangerous place. -Erik Weihenmayer

Takeaways

We associate happiness and aliveness with comfort, and we can get trapped in that zoo.

There are three kinds of people, quitters, campers and climbers.

You have to train yourself to have courage by practicing a bit of it every single day.

At the start of the show, Erik shared his workout regimen and how he makes sure he has balance. Next, he talked about constructing the business side of adventuring, and what it’s like for blind people in the working world. We also talked about how trauma affect us and gets in the way. Erik also talked about the danger of being in the comfort zone of our own lives. We talked about how to continue to innovate, explore, grow and feel purpose in our lives and challenge ourselves to do the things that matter. Towards the end of the show, we talked about the power of practicing courage.

Erik also spoke about;

The impact and legacy of Terry Fox

Quitters, campers and climbers

The resilience of animals

His definition of courage

The power of stepping into the storm of life

Bad things happen to people, and very often we take those things and create reasons and excuses around why life is bad. The trauma stops us from moving forward, and we end up getting crushed. Living in the storm of life is scary, and it throws you in all sorts of chaotic directions but remember the action is in the storm, that’s where discovery is, and that’s where insight is. Stop reacting, responding, and blaming, and just live with courage.

Guest Bio

Erik is an American athlete, adventurer, author, activist and motivational speaker, and the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on May 25, 2001. He also completed the Seven Summits in September 2002, joining 150 mountaineers at the time who had accomplished that feat, but the only climber who was blind. In 2008 he also added Carstensz Pyramid in West Papua New Guinea, the tallest peak in Australasia, thus completing the more respected Seventh Summit. Weihenmayer has also made noteworthy climbs up the Nose of El Capita...

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