Podcast Summary
Bethany Hamilton's Inspiring Story of Survival and Determination: Despite losing her arm to a shark, Bethany Hamilton found the courage to return to surfing and overcome adversity. Her story highlights the power of resilience, determination, and finding a supportive community.
No matter what life throws at us, we have the power to choose how we respond. Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer, author, and motivational speaker, is a living testament to this. After losing her arm to a shark at the age of 13, she defied all odds and returned to surfing just a month later. Her resilience and determination led her to win national titles and even compete against the best surfers in the world. Her new movie, "Bethany Hamilton Unstoppable," tells her inspiring story. In this interview, Bethany shares how she finds the courage to tackle bigger waves, the challenges and blessings of motherhood, and how her accident empowered her rather than hindered her. She emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community and learning to communicate effectively in relationships. Bethany's story is a reminder that no matter what life brings, we can choose to move forward with love, joy, and determination.
The importance of effective communication and trust in marriage: Couples should adapt to new situations, communicate openly, and trust each other to build a strong partnership. Unexpected challenges can lead to personal growth and joy.
Effective communication and building a strong partnership are essential in a successful marriage. Bethany and Adam, who have been married for around seven years, emphasized the importance of adapting to new situations and trusting each other through the ups and downs of life. The unexpected arrival of their first child, Tobias, presented a challenge, but they came to appreciate the joys of motherhood and the growth it brought to their family. Reflecting on her past, Bethany expressed regret for not having the right support during her competitive surfing career and wished she had pursued better coaching. However, she is content with her current life and the loving partnership she shares with her husband. Overall, their story highlights the value of open communication, teamwork, and trust in navigating the complexities of marriage and parenthood.
Overcoming Challenges in Surfing: Determination and hard work can help surfers overcome injuries and balance family life while continuing to compete and improve.
Determination and hard work can lead to improvement and success, even in challenging circumstances. The speaker, a professional surfer and mother of two, shares her experiences of continuing to surf at a high level after having children and overcoming injuries. She emphasizes the importance of staying focused on opportunities and learning from setbacks. The speaker also highlights the role of inspiration and the support of others in helping her to push through doubts and continue pursuing her passion for surfing. Despite facing competition from top athletes, she remains committed to her craft and continues to seek out opportunities to learn and grow.
Mastering the ocean's unpredictability: Competitive surfing requires adapting to waves, taking turns, and staying calm under pressure to tackle the ocean's challenges
Competitive surfing is not just about beating your opponents, but rather mastering the ocean and its unpredictable conditions. Surfers must adapt to the waves they are given and take turns, with a bit of luck and strategy involved. The ocean is the true challenge, always humbling surfers and requiring them to be at their best in a short window of time. Surfers like Bethany Hamilton, who grew up in an environment of charging waves and training for moments like these, build up the confidence and preparation needed to tackle even the ginormous waves. When faced with the impossible, they remain calm and focused, having practiced staying calm underwater and relaxing their body.
Staying Calm in Challenging Situations: Surfing and Motherhood: In surfing and motherhood, staying calm and focused during challenging situations is crucial. Trusting in the present moment and drawing on inner strength can lead to positive outcomes.
Surfing and motherhood share similarities in dealing with challenging situations. In the ocean, when faced with heavy waves, it's essential to stay calm and wait it out. Similarly, in motherhood, it's crucial to remain composed and focused on the present moment. The speaker shares how her longest breath hold is over four minutes, but acknowledges that under pressure, her ability to hold her breath is different. She aspires to be a respectful and guiding presence in her children's lives, instilling values of chivalry and thoughtfulness towards others. The speaker's mother played a significant role in her faith and encouraging her to trust in God's plan during difficult times, which she applies to her own life. The speaker's experiences in the ocean and the hospital taught her to be thankful for life and trust that good will come from even the most challenging situations.
Parental support and love for adventure: Embrace parental support and the spirit of adventure to overcome challenges and live a fulfilling life
Having a supportive family and embracing a sense of adventure are key to overcoming challenges and living a fulfilling life. The speaker shared how her parents, especially her dad, have always been her biggest supporters, encouraging her in her surfing career and instilling in her a love for adventure. She also expressed a wish that they had taught her more about finances and taxes, but acknowledged that she has learned to delegate those responsibilities. As a mother herself, she described motherhood as the hardest yet most rewarding experience, shaping her into a better person and bringing her immense joy and excitement. Ultimately, she hopes to pass on these values to her own children, encouraging them to follow their passions and live adventurous lives.
Intentional Self-Care and Support: Find quiet moments, engage in activities fully present, seek guidance through prayer, teamwork, and support system, dabble in new experiences, and focus on personal growth.
Staying grounded and balanced in the midst of a busy and competitive life requires intentional efforts and support from loved ones and team. Tobes, a competitive athlete and mom, shared her strategies, which include finding time for quiet moments, engaging in activities that fully present her in the moment, such as surfing and dancing, and seeking guidance through prayer. She emphasized the importance of teamwork and having a support system, whether it's a partner, family, or a team of professionals. When feeling lost or uncertain about goals, she recommended dabbling in new experiences and continuing to work on personal passions. Overall, her message was one of finding balance through intentional self-care, support from loved ones, and a focus on personal growth.
Empowering Young People and Personal Growth in Surfing: The entrepreneur and surfer shares her journey of helping young people find their path while continuing to pursue her own goals in surfing, including taking inspiration from experienced surfers and prioritizing self-care.
The speaker is a passionate entrepreneur and surfer, who is dedicated to helping young people find their path in life while continuing to pursue her own goals. She has been working on an online course to empower young people and is also striving to become a well-rounded surfer, having previously focused more on free surfing. She is still figuring out her goals in competitive surfing and balancing her personal life as a mother. She acknowledges the importance of taking time to figure things out and prioritize self-care, such as getting good sleep. She also looks up to experienced surfers like Kelly Slater as sources of inspiration and motivation to push her own limits.
Embracing challenges and pain for personal growth: Develop grit and a passion for learning to overcome challenges and improve, no matter the age or circumstances. Education and self-improvement are crucial in today's digital age.
Grit and a passion for continuous learning are essential for personal growth and achieving goals, no matter what age or stage of life. Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer, shared her experiences of developing resilience and endurance from a young age through her love for surfing. She emphasized the importance of embracing challenges and pain as part of the journey towards improvement. Additionally, she highlighted the significance of education and self-improvement in today's digital age, striving to maintain her fitness and health as she ages. Despite facing significant challenges like childbirth and a shark attack, Hamilton's determination and love for her passions have kept her motivated and driven to be the best she can be, even as a grandmother.
Embracing Challenges for Personal Growth: Overcoming physical challenges and embracing change can lead to personal growth and a deeper appreciation for life. Mental preparation and letting go of control are essential in dealing with difficult situations, whether it's an injury or childbirth.
Overcoming physical challenges and embracing change can lead to personal growth and a deeper appreciation for life. The speaker, an amputee and mother, shares her experiences of dealing with the pain of her injury and the process of giving birth. She emphasizes the importance of mental preparation and letting go of control in both situations. The speaker also expresses her admiration for mothers and the incredible feat of childbirth, and her own journey towards inspiring and equipping others through her upcoming course, Unstoppable. Additionally, she shares a lesser-known aspect of her life - her passion for music and playing the ukulele with a prosthetic arm. Despite the challenges, she remains determined and finds joy in her experiences.
Three truths and lessons to leave behind: Stay true to ourselves, overcome challenges, and live fully in the present. Faith, determination, and joy define greatness.
No matter what we've accomplished in life, we must take it with us when we go, leaving behind only three truths and lessons for others. Bethany, a successful surfer and shark attack survivor, shared her potential truths: be faithful, be unstoppable, and enjoy the moment and seek adventure. These truths embody the importance of staying true to ourselves, overcoming challenges, and living fully in the present. Bethany's impact on others comes from her unwavering faith, her determination to be unstoppable, and her joyful approach to life. Her definition of greatness is simply loving and making the most of what we have, and enjoying life to the fullest.
Story of resilience and inspiration: Despite challenges, we have the power to rise above them and not be reduced. Share inspiring stories to help others facing their own struggles.
Despite the challenges and setbacks we face in life, we have the power to rise above them and not be reduced by them. Bethany Hamilton's inspiring story is a testament to this. It's important to share stories of resilience and inspiration with others, as they may help inspire someone facing their own challenges. You can share this episode with a friend by visiting LewisHouse.com/eightforone or through your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to tag @lewishouse and @bethanyhamilton on Instagram if you do. And please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to this podcast. Your feedback helps spread the message of the School of Greatness. Remember, as Maya Angelou said, "You may not control all the events that happened to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." Move the way love and joy make you move, and go out there and do something great.
