How to Change When Everything Changes | Chris Waddell on Resilience

Chris Waddell (0:00)

We as human beings have two diametrically opposed desires. One, we want to be successful, and two, we don't really want to grow old. And we think that successful is something that's static. Once we get there, then we're successful, then all life is good.

And we don't recognize that the learning, growing, and dreaming part is the big part of not growing old, is that we continue to change, we continue to evolve.

And sometimes that is really painful. It's also often the thing that we look back on our lives and go, that's the thing that made the most sense. That was the greatest moment in my life.

Michael Gervais (0:48)

All right, welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery Podcast. I'm Dr. Michael Gervais by Trade and Training, a sport and performance psychologist. And the whole idea behind this podcast, behind these conversations is to learn from people who are challenging the edges and the reaches of the human experience in business, in sport, in science, in life. We pull back the curtain to explore how they have committed to mastering both their craft and their minds in an effort to express their potential.

I want to take a minute here to announce a really exciting event that we have coming up. As you continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities of 2024, I want to pose a question. What are you doing right now to be great with stress? How are you working with stress on your pursuit towards your most important ambitions and goals? And I just want to get right to the heart of the key elements, one in particular for what it takes to excel in today's high heat, high stakes world. Because stress is not the problem that we think it is. Stress is a synonym for change. And our ability to be agile with change, that is the real opportunity at hand. So if you're wanting to unlock extraordinary results and sustainable performance in your life, it's not about avoiding or reducing stress. And as simple as that sounds, it's very tricky to do, but it is about fundamentally changing your relationship with it. And that's why I'm so thrilled to invite you to a special event. It's a free virtual event that we're offering. And it's called The Power of Embracing Stress. It's on Wednesday, March 6th at 2 p.m. Pacific. So to sign up, just head over to findingmastery.com/training, whether it's advancing in your career or improving your health or cultivating stronger relationships, I think a new approach to stress can be one of the most powerful unlocks for you in your life. So join us for this free virtual training, The Power of Embracing Stress, on Wednesday, March 6th at 2 p.m. Pacific. Go to findingmastery.com/training to sign up once again. That's findingmastery.com/training. And I'm really excited to see you there.

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Now, this week's conversation is with Chris Waddell, a Paralympian who is widely known as the most decorated mono skier in the United States history. So Chris began ski racing at the age of six. He skied competitively all the way through college where during his freshman year in a training session, he was left paralyzed from the waist down. Now, what happens for most of us when we go through a life altering event is that it reveals our internal operating system, one's worldview, personal philosophy, psychological skills.

The external event literally illuminates our internal world. So while Chris couldn't use his body in the same way, it revealed who he was, what he was made of. We are so much more than our physical body and that's what this conversation is about. Within a year, Chris was back on the mountain as a monoskier and soon became the fastest in the world. He's gone on to compete in seven Paralympic Games, earning 13 medals in alpine skiing and track and field, cementing his place for the USA as one of the most successful two sport athletes as a Paralympic Hall of Famer.