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Published Dec 10, 2019

288: Erik Weihenmayer | A Blind Man Sees No Barriers

Erik Weihenmayer, a blind adventurer, recounts his awe-inspiring ascents of Everest and other peaks, shares his 'No Barriers' philosophy, and explores the transformative power of adaptive technologies like BrainPort and echolocation.
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  • No Barriers

    Erik Weihenmayer's 'No Barriers' philosophy is about uniting people through shared challenges. He believes that whether one is blind or struggling with depression, the psychological impact of these challenges is similar. This philosophy encourages people to lean on each other and learn from each other's experiences.

    When we have successes, we feel pretty proud and egotistical. But when we have a challenge, it's kind of something that unites us as human beings.

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    Erik emphasizes the importance of feeling and processing emotions fully to move forward. He shares that people often get stuck in their challenges, unable to move forward or backward, and highlights the need to keep an open heart and mind to new possibilities 1 2.

       

    Supporting No Barriers

    Supporting the 'No Barriers' mission involves participating in events and programs designed to help those facing challenges. Erik Weihenmayer invites people to join their summits and events, which gather thousands of individuals, including youth and veterans, to share and support each other.

    We have a huge, what we call our summit. We'll have thousands of people, youth and veterans and people with different kinds of challenges all gathering together.

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    He also highlights the success of the documentary 'The Weight of Water,' which showcases his journey kayaking the Grand Canyon and has won numerous awards 3.

       

    Maintaining Motivation

    Erik Weihenmayer stays motivated by ensuring that his pursuits are meaningful and not just stunts for attention. He reflects on his experiences and emphasizes the importance of committing to goals that matter deeply to him.

    Things have to matter because if you commit to them to do them well, it involves a huge degree of suffering and commitment and time and preparation.

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    Erik also shares his journey of accepting blindness, which involved a lot of resistance and struggle. Over time, he learned to use tools and adopt a mindset that helped him break free from the limitations imposed by his blindness 4 5.

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