Bethany Hamilton & Nik Wallenda: Practicing Good Habits To Overcome Fear | Takeaways with Kirk Cameron

August 18, 2025 | 55:2

Kirk Cameron is joined by professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and high wire walker Nik Wallenda about ways they both had to conquer fear after devastating circumstances changed their lives.

#Fear #Overcoming #Author #Athlete #PersonalStory #Testimony #SeekGod #Faith #Culture

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Takeaways with Kirk Cameron | Bethany Hamilton & Nik Wallenda: Practicing Good Habits To Overcome Fear | Takeaways with Kirk Cameron | August 18, 2025

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Kirk cameron: when was the last time you were afraid?
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And what did you do about it?
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Did you press forward in spite of your fears or did you give in
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To them?
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Even though the bible has many passages that encourage us to
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Overcome fear by trusting in god's presence and his promises,
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It can be a real battle to not allow our feelings of being
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Afraid to rule over us.
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Today our guests bethany hamilton and nik wallenda have
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Had devastating experiences that could have left them crippled by
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Fear, but with god's help they fought back and will share with
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Us their story of how they overcame despite being afraid.
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Let's get to it right now on "takeaways."
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Bethany hamilton: i think when you are struggling in that
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Anxiety, and that fear, and that doubt, and that low confidence,
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Remember that in those moments that's when you need to come
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Back to god.
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Nik wallenda: the reality is, as long as we continue to keep god
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Number one and use everything, realize we can use everything we
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Go through to bring glory to his name.
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Kirk: my first guest is bethany hamilton.
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At the age of 13 as a rising surf star, bethany lost her arm
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To a 14 foot tiger shark.
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However, one month after the attack, bethany returned to
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Surfing and within two years had won her first national
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Surfing title.
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She's authored several books, which includes this children's
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Book entitled "surfing past fear."
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Bethany, thanks so much.
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Welcome to "takeaways."
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Bethany: aloha, thanks for having me.
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Kirk: aloha.
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Well, thank you so much.
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And thank you for writing this book.
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I have also written a book together with brave books, which
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Is this amazing company that's arming parents with books to
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Teach their children these pro-god, pro-america values.
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And yours is all about overcoming fear.
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I can't think of anybody who is more qualified to write a book
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About overcoming fear and anxiety.
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What would you say is one of the fears that you have had to
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Most overcome in your life?
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Bethany: oh, my goodness.
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Yeah, i'm very passionate about this topic because clearly it
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Started very young for me.
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You know, the title of my book, "surfing past fear."
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And that's literally what my life started as a
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13-year-old girl.
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And one of the biggest questions i get is how did you overcome
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Your fear of sharks?
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But what's interesting about me is i was so passionate about
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Surfing that my fear of losing surfing was greater than my fear
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Of sharks.
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So i just had such a love and passion and drive to be out in
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The ocean doing something that i love so much.
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But then i'm faced with, i lose my arm to a shark.
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So now i have this fear of sharks, and fear of losing
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Surfing, and it's all kind of melding together.
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And i really had to just kind of trust in god in that season and
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Every single season of fear, because there have been many
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Fears since then.
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And if we're all being honest, we all struggle with fear at one
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Point or another.
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Like nowadays, a lot of my fears are surrounding motherhood, or
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Marriage, or, you know, my parents getting older and like
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Not having them around forever, like, stuff like that.
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But i think for me, like, it came down to facing my fear.
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First trying how to surf with one arm and then getting in the
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Ocean where the sharks are at, you know, we're going into their
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Home environment.
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And for me, it truly was this repetition of every day facing
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My fear, every day getting out there.
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And it started off with, i joined my friends.
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I would go out and surf with my friends, with a large group of
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People with the crowded areas, so that it just made me feel a
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Bit more safe.
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And i think just that instead of letting that fear suppress me
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Or hold me back or make me stay in my bedroom, i was like, wait,
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But i love surfing, and i want to get out there, and i wanna
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Try to do this.
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And so i got out there, i faced my fears day after day after
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Day, and it wasn't always easy.
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There were some times where i was super scared and all i would
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Do is just stare in the water the whole time.
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And so it's kind of like this like mesh of fears that i had
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To face.
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And i'm so glad that i didn't allow that fear to hold me back
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From doing something i love to do.
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And i believe that god gave me this passion to surf for
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A reason.
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And truly like, by me getting back on my board, it's sent
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Millions of messages to people thinking, hey, you can get back
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On your board too, whatever that board may look like.
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And so "surfing past fear" was to inspire the young generation
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Of like, don't listen to the lies that come into your head
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That tell you you can't do it.
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And instead, get out there and try again, and try again, and
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Face your fears, and over time, those fears will
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Slowly dissolve.
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Because fast forward now, i surf all the time, and i'm not
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Fearful of sharks every single time i paddle out there, and i
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Have a blast doing it.
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Kirk: i love what you said, bethany, about your love for
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Surfing swallowed your fear for sharks.
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And that's really a biblical principle that we see over and
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Over in scripture.
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God's not given us a spirit of fear but of love.
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And love can swallow up our fears.
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If we love god more, we won't have the fear of man, or the
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Fear of woman, or the fear of sharks, or anything else.
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And so we drive forward to pursue that which we love most,
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And our fears start to shrink and go away.
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You put that into such a great context that people can really
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Wrap their minds around and you've also put it in the
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Context of a children's book that parents can read to
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Their kids.
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"surfing past fear," it's got all of these adorable animal
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Characters inside.
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There's actually a bear here named moby, who actually has
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One arm.
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And there's a pink flamingo and there's, you know, this
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Beautiful little cat character who is learning how to surf.
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What do you hope?
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Bethany: i want to chime in too because the character moby, he's
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Born with one arm, and he's hanging out on the beach and you
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See the main character have this moment of like, oh, i can't
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Do it.
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Like, i'm never gonna surf again, like, kind of building up
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These lies in her head and moby overhears her and he's like,
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That's a bit outrageous of a thought there.
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And then he paddles out and shows her, hey, you can do hard
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Things, you can.
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And so i think sometimes when we're so paralyzed by our fears,
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We need to find an outside source.
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Someone who's older, wiser, been there, done that.
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And so pointing our children to other people who have overcome
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Hardship or in our adult life, finding someone who has overcome
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The different hardships and the fears that we are all
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Struggling with.
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And i love that verse you brought up too, "for god has not
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Given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a
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Sound mind."
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But sometimes we forget what god calls on our life and we get
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Carried away and in the ways of the world and the thoughts of
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Darkness that are not of god.
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And so i think when you are struggling in that anxiety and
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That fear and that doubt and that low confidence, remember
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That in those moments, that's when you need to come back to
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God and ask god to help you, ask him to work through the sin or
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The lies that you're struggling in.
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And you know, none of us are gonna hold out god's
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Word perfect.
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Like, we're not always gonna have a spirit of power and of
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Love and of a sound mind, we're gonna struggle.
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And so when we have those moments, that's when we go back
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To god and like, god help me because i'm just not perfect.
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Like, you know, now i'm 35 years old and i have 4 children, and
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Sometimes the fears of motherhood get the best to me.
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And that's when i need to go to god in prayer or go to the
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Wiser woman in my life or talk with my husband and work through
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Those fears.
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But my love for my children propels me to do that.
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And my role and duty and vocation as a mother propels me
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To do what i need to do.
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And so trusting that god will strengthen us in the ups and
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Downs of fears and doubts and the many struggles that life
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Throws our way.
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Kirk: what are some practical, everyday steps that kids can
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Take to overcome their fears?
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You mentioned one of them, which was to do things with friends,
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At least to begin with.
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What are some other things?
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Bethany: yes, yeah, i would say grab a friend or your mom and
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Dad or your auntie and uncle, someone that loves you, who
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Wants to brave your fears with you.
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Two, remember what god has called on your life.
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He has not given you a spirit of fear, so ask god to give you the
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Courage that you need to face your fears.
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And then three, just look at the examples around you.
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Remember, there's other people doing hard things, doing
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Big challenges.
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And i think sometimes when we focus in too much on the pain
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Point or on the challenge or on the fear, that can kinda
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Paralyze you.
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So you want to focus on what's possible, what can i do, how can
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I overcome this, and put your thoughts on the good and
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Beautiful things of life.
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And so just know though that, like, you're not alone in
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Your fears.
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Like all of us have to overcome our fears, and that's why god
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Gives us community and he gives us his promises to look to.
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So that when those fears come, we're like, oh yeah, i'm going
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To call up my friend or my auntie and uncle or my mom and
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Dad, i'm going to pray and ask god to help me, and i'm gonna
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Remember what's possible, look towards what is something i can
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Do in this moment.
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And so, yeah, you guys got this.
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Kirk: bethany, we talked about one verse of scripture that
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Helps us to remember that god has given us power and love to
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Overcome our fears.
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What are some other go-to verses that you think might help kids,
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That have helped you, to overcome their fears?
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Bethany: okay, so this one isn't necessarily centered around
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Fear, but it's centered around the power of god and the work
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That he has done for us.
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And so this is my all-time favorite bible verse since i'm
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Gonna share it.
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With any verse, this is my go to, john 16:33, "for i've said
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These things to you that in me you will have peace.
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In the world you will have trouble, but take heart, i have
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Overcome the world."
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And that's jesus's promise to us that in him we're going to
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Have peace.
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And i definitely felt that like after i lost my arm, well, my
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Life felt really upside down and really challenging.
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I also had a peace that god was with me and that he was gonna
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Work through this tough situation.
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And then i also had his promises to remember, like, he has
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Overcome the world on my behalf, on your behalf, on anyone who
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Looks to god to be the author and finisher of their faith,
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Like, he has overcome.
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And so, i think putting our confidence and our faith and
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Our hope and our courage in god before we put it in ourselves,
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Because we as humans are not perfect, we don't have it
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Together, we all make mistakes, you know, we all have challenges
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That we're facing, but when our confidence is in god, that's
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Gonna give us the courage to face the continual fears,
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Doubts, and challenges.
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And so that's just good news.
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Like, that's what we need to remember each and every day, as
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A mother, as a grandparent, as a child, as a teenager, as a young
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Adult, like, all of us need to remember this.
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Kirk: that's great news.
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Right after the break, we're gonna talk more with bethany on
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Teaching children not to give in to fear.
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And then later in the program, acrobat and aerialist nik
00:12:38.103 --> 00:12:41.841
Wallenda will share his personal story of how he had to overcome
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Fear after a terrible accident on the high wire.
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Don't go away.
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Nik: it is so important that we learn to redirect our thoughts
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And counter them.
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Often i counter my negative thoughts with scripture.
00:12:54.453 --> 00:13:01.997
Often i counter my negative thoughts with scripture.
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Kirk: we're back with professional surfer and
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Inspirational speaker, bethany hamilton.
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Bethany, we've been talking about your adorable and
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Important book, "surfing past fear."
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I think every parent should get this if you haven't already
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Found out about brave books and their book of the month club.
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You've got to get it so that you can read "surfing past fear"
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From bethany hamilton.
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Bethany, one of the points that you make in this book for
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Parents to read to kids is that difficult things are a part
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Of life.
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Hard things don't have to ruin your life, they're just part of
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The life that god has given to you.
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What are some of the other truths in your book that you
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Hope children take away from it?
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Bethany: oh, my goodness.
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Yeah, you know, we were talking earlier about that verse, john
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16:33, and the premise of that verse is, "in me you will have
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Peace, in this world you will have trouble."
00:13:58.785 --> 00:14:01.821
And i think sometimes, like, we always want comfort, we always
00:14:01.821 --> 00:14:06.192
Want to lean into what's easier, more comfortable.
00:14:06.192 --> 00:14:10.096
We want to make life as smooth as possible.
00:14:10.096 --> 00:14:13.833
And i think that's just kind of innate in us.
00:14:13.833 --> 00:14:16.603
But sometimes choosing the easiest route isn't the
00:14:16.603 --> 00:14:19.839
Best route.
00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:21.174
As parents or individuals, we need to remember that god says
00:14:21.174 --> 00:14:24.477
You will have trouble.
00:14:24.477 --> 00:14:25.812
He says you're gonna have hardship, you're gonna have pain
00:14:25.812 --> 00:14:28.548
Along the way.
00:14:28.548 --> 00:14:29.916
And, we actually happen to have a little bible verse up in
00:14:29.916 --> 00:14:33.286
Our house.
00:14:33.286 --> 00:14:34.621
I'm trying to get our boys to memorize a verse or two a month.
00:14:34.621 --> 00:14:38.325
And our verse right now is romans 8:20, "and we know that
00:14:38.325 --> 00:14:42.762
For those who love god, all things work together for good."
00:14:42.762 --> 00:14:46.900
So even in the most hard and painful aspects of life, god
00:14:46.900 --> 00:14:51.871
Will work good through those.
00:14:51.871 --> 00:14:54.341
And so sometimes that's hard to face because, to be honest, i've
00:14:54.341 --> 00:14:57.877
Had, like, a crazy few hard years.
00:14:57.877 --> 00:15:00.513
Like, a lot of it doesn't feel good.
00:15:00.513 --> 00:15:03.216
I don't celebrate a lot of it.
00:15:03.216 --> 00:15:05.986
But i know that god is faithful and just and i know that he's
00:15:05.986 --> 00:15:09.756
Gonna work through that because that's what his word promises,
00:15:09.756 --> 00:15:12.559
And that he's gonna work together good.
00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.695
And so i think instilling that in our own lives and in our
00:15:15.695 --> 00:15:20.633
Children's lives, being able to be prepared for the hardships
00:15:20.633 --> 00:15:24.671
And the pains and to walk through that faithfully, to look
00:15:24.671 --> 00:15:28.608
To god when those pain points hit is so important.
00:15:28.608 --> 00:15:34.214
And i found that in every season of life.
00:15:34.214 --> 00:15:37.117
Kirk: bethany, in "surfing past fear," you also talk about the
00:15:37.117 --> 00:15:40.387
Importance of overcoming the fear of failure, the fear of
00:15:40.387 --> 00:15:44.524
Being a failure.
00:15:44.524 --> 00:15:46.726
How have you combated and overcome that in your own life?
00:15:46.726 --> 00:15:50.663
Bethany: oh my gosh, yes, that's definitely a tough one.
00:15:50.663 --> 00:15:53.433
And especially as a pro surfer, like, sometimes the ocean is so
00:15:53.433 --> 00:15:58.238
Intimidating that, like, i don't paddle out thinking, like, i
00:15:58.238 --> 00:16:02.442
Got this.
00:16:02.442 --> 00:16:03.810
Sometimes i paddle out thinking, like, hm, this is a little
00:16:03.810 --> 00:16:06.913
Crazy, i might die, i might wipe out really bad, you know, a lot
00:16:06.913 --> 00:16:11.217
Of bad things could happen in this moment.
00:16:11.217 --> 00:16:13.653
But for me, i guess, like, a lot of my drive comes from, like,
00:16:13.653 --> 00:16:17.957
Okay, i know god's given me this talent, and i should just
00:16:17.957 --> 00:16:21.494
Try because if i do get really good on it, it could be the best
00:16:21.494 --> 00:16:25.432
Wave of my life.
00:16:25.432 --> 00:16:26.800
So i guess pivoting that mindset to, like, instead of focusing on
00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:31.805
The worst part of what could happen, focus on, like, the best
00:16:31.805 --> 00:16:36.209
Part of what could happen.
00:16:36.209 --> 00:16:38.111
And i've found that, you know, a lot of people are like, oh, i
00:16:38.111 --> 00:16:41.714
Never would have got back on my board to surf again.
00:16:41.714 --> 00:16:44.684
And i'm like, well, look at all the fun things i've gotten to
00:16:44.684 --> 00:16:47.287
Do, and all the cool things, and the impact that my story has had
00:16:47.287 --> 00:16:51.558
This ripple effect.
00:16:51.558 --> 00:16:52.926
And so remembering that sometimes our life is more than
00:16:52.926 --> 00:16:55.428
Our own success or failure, but by us showing up and trying our
00:16:55.428 --> 00:17:00.166
Hardest, it can have a ripple effect on all those people
00:17:00.166 --> 00:17:03.570
Around us.
00:17:03.570 --> 00:17:04.904
So by me showing up every single day, even when i might have gone
00:17:04.904 --> 00:17:08.708
To bed the night before thinking, i didn't rock
00:17:08.708 --> 00:17:11.211
Motherhood this evening or yesterday.
00:17:11.211 --> 00:17:14.647
I could wake up thinking, hmm, motherhood's too hard, i'm gonna
00:17:14.647 --> 00:17:19.052
Fail, i'm not gonna be able to do good at this.
00:17:19.052 --> 00:17:21.888
Instead, i'm gonna wake up and pray, god, help me this day,
00:17:21.888 --> 00:17:25.959
Help me to show up my best, help me to show up the way that you
00:17:25.959 --> 00:17:28.761
Called me to be patient, loving, gracious, leading my children in
00:17:28.761 --> 00:17:33.333
The way that they should go.
00:17:33.333 --> 00:17:35.168
Kirk: bethany, how have you and your husband been teaching your
00:17:35.168 --> 00:17:38.805
Young children to show up their best and to overcome
00:17:38.805 --> 00:17:41.741
Their fears?
00:17:41.741 --> 00:17:43.076
Bethany: for me, it's pretty simple right now.
00:17:43.076 --> 00:17:44.844
Like kind of a lot of my focus is on, let's show up our best
00:17:44.844 --> 00:17:50.350
And let's try again.
00:17:50.350 --> 00:17:52.352
Because chances are, you know, especially in these young years,
00:17:52.352 --> 00:17:55.889
They are wiping out a lot and it doesn't always go great.
00:17:55.889 --> 00:17:59.526
And there are, like, you know, legitimate challenges that
00:17:59.526 --> 00:18:03.997
They're facing.
00:18:03.997 --> 00:18:05.365
And so i'm like, okay, well, let's try again.
00:18:05.365 --> 00:18:06.833
Or if they're really at a breaking point, i'm like, okay,
00:18:06.833 --> 00:18:10.170
We're gonna take a break and try again later or another day.
00:18:10.170 --> 00:18:14.140
And i think a lot of it too is, like, coming alongside of them
00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:18.611
When they are struggling and being like, hey, i'm here with
00:18:18.611 --> 00:18:21.781
You, let's do this together.
00:18:21.781 --> 00:18:23.716
So kind of coming back to the initial principles i shared of,
00:18:23.716 --> 00:18:27.187
Like, doing it together, trying again, asking god to help us,
00:18:27.187 --> 00:18:32.492
And focusing on what we can do and how we can show up our best.
00:18:32.492 --> 00:18:39.199
Kirk: bethany, you've become quite a role model for so many
00:18:39.199 --> 00:18:42.001
People who have been inspired by your story.
00:18:42.001 --> 00:18:45.104
Who are some of your models that have encouraged and
00:18:45.104 --> 00:18:47.574
Inspired you?
00:18:47.574 --> 00:18:50.543
Bethany: yeah, you know what, i definitely, i would just say,
00:18:50.543 --> 00:18:54.447
Like, my mom's been such a huge role model in my life.
00:18:54.447 --> 00:18:58.251
I'm really grateful for the relationship that i have with
00:18:58.251 --> 00:19:01.588
Her and even my dad, like, he's always been the one that came
00:19:01.588 --> 00:19:05.391
Alongside of me when, you know, when i first was learning how to
00:19:05.391 --> 00:19:08.828
Surf with one arm.
00:19:08.828 --> 00:19:10.163
I think of those years in particular, how one day, like,
00:19:10.163 --> 00:19:13.766
Actually, it probably happened a few days, and it was really
00:19:13.766 --> 00:19:16.169
Painful for my dad to watch me paddling out and i couldn't make
00:19:16.169 --> 00:19:19.372
It out to the lineup because it was so challenging with one arm.
00:19:19.372 --> 00:19:23.476
And i would come in crying, frustrated.
00:19:23.476 --> 00:19:25.979
And then he came up with a creative way of like creating a
00:19:25.979 --> 00:19:29.015
Handle for my surfboard so i could grab my board and push it
00:19:29.015 --> 00:19:32.752
Underneath the waves.
00:19:32.752 --> 00:19:34.120
And so just them coming alongside of me and being there
00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:37.890
For me and then putting our focus on god is what will
00:19:37.890 --> 00:19:42.629
Strengthen us, even in the hardest things in life and
00:19:42.629 --> 00:19:47.033
Letting him be our strength and guide and encourager.
00:19:47.033 --> 00:19:50.637
Because none of us are perfect and we're not always gonna win,
00:19:50.637 --> 00:19:54.073
We're not always gonna rock it, but it's about getting back up
00:19:54.073 --> 00:19:58.511
And trying again and keeping on going and letting god be your
00:19:58.511 --> 00:20:03.416
Strength through it all.
00:20:03.416 --> 00:20:05.618
Kirk: and you're leading your children by your own example,
00:20:05.618 --> 00:20:10.023
Which i think is always the best way to teach our
00:20:10.023 --> 00:20:12.558
Children anything.
00:20:12.558 --> 00:20:14.327
Whether it's to teach them about god and his faithfulness or
00:20:14.327 --> 00:20:16.729
About overcoming our fears, is to give them a living breathing
00:20:16.729 --> 00:20:19.632
Example of what that looks like.
00:20:19.632 --> 00:20:21.467
And you and your husband are doing such a great job
00:20:21.467 --> 00:20:23.803
With that.
00:20:23.803 --> 00:20:25.171
Bethany, you're a surfing champion, you're an
00:20:25.171 --> 00:20:27.307
International speaker, you are a wife, you're a mother.
00:20:27.307 --> 00:20:30.410
What is god teaching you in this season of your life?
00:20:30.410 --> 00:20:34.814
Bethany: oh, my goodness, wow, that's a great question.
00:20:34.814 --> 00:20:37.216
There are just so many things, but i guess like this last
00:20:37.216 --> 00:20:41.187
Season, i mean, there's been a mountain of things we've
00:20:41.187 --> 00:20:44.390
Been learning.
00:20:44.390 --> 00:20:46.826
But i think one thing is, like, cherishing family.
00:20:46.826 --> 00:20:50.396
We lost a family member this last year, and so that's just
00:20:50.396 --> 00:20:54.067
Been so devastating.
00:20:54.067 --> 00:20:55.601
And so just showing up every day and knowing that god has blessed
00:20:55.601 --> 00:21:00.807
Us with our beautiful children and we're called to have this
00:21:00.807 --> 00:21:04.544
Beautiful relationship day in, day out, and to just really soak
00:21:04.544 --> 00:21:08.114
Up every moment.
00:21:08.114 --> 00:21:09.482
And i think sometimes it's hard to do that when life's busy and
00:21:09.482 --> 00:21:13.486
There's so many things going on.
00:21:13.486 --> 00:21:15.088
So as a family, we're intentionally choosing every
00:21:15.088 --> 00:21:18.658
Aspect of our life from the way we educate our children, to the
00:21:18.658 --> 00:21:22.495
Sports we're doing, to the schedule load, making sure that
00:21:22.495 --> 00:21:26.833
We still have that time to connect as a family, to read
00:21:26.833 --> 00:21:30.803
God's word together as a family, to have time to look each other
00:21:30.803 --> 00:21:35.074
In the eye.
00:21:35.074 --> 00:21:36.409
And i feel like the american hustle is so real and so
00:21:36.409 --> 00:21:38.778
Luring and so coming after you as a family, and you really have
00:21:38.778 --> 00:21:44.450
To, like, say no so that you can still have those intentional
00:21:44.450 --> 00:21:47.954
Times as a family.
00:21:47.954 --> 00:21:49.288
And, yeah, we launched a podcast too, "all things
00:21:49.288 --> 00:21:52.725
Possible" podcast.
00:21:52.725 --> 00:21:54.060
So it's been fun to learn from other people and have really
00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:57.530
Thoughtful conversations.
00:21:57.530 --> 00:21:58.898
I feel like as an adult, i really am, like, craving more
00:21:58.898 --> 00:22:02.268
Depth, whether it's in the faith, like, conversation
00:22:02.268 --> 00:22:05.872
Surrounding faith and god and his goodness, or health,
00:22:05.872 --> 00:22:09.809
Or family.
00:22:09.809 --> 00:22:11.177
Like, i just want to be challenged.
00:22:11.177 --> 00:22:12.745
And so just being willing to continually learn as a grown
00:22:12.745 --> 00:22:17.016
Woman and being really intentional and proactive.
00:22:17.016 --> 00:22:22.054
Kirk: well, bethany, i'm so honored that you came on
00:22:22.054 --> 00:22:24.924
"takeaways" that we've had this conversation, and the great
00:22:24.924 --> 00:22:27.894
Takeaway that i'm getting from, not just your book, but your
00:22:27.894 --> 00:22:31.297
Whole life story, is not to let your fears hold you back from
00:22:31.297 --> 00:22:36.602
Your dreams and to keep on trying to do things in community
00:22:36.602 --> 00:22:40.706
With others who love you and support you and can encourage
00:22:40.706 --> 00:22:43.743
You, especially within the family of faith.
00:22:43.743 --> 00:22:45.745
And then nourishing your loves, like your love for god, your
00:22:45.745 --> 00:22:49.382
Love for family, your love for your passion, your sport, or
00:22:49.382 --> 00:22:52.118
Whatever that is, so that it swallows your fears.
00:22:52.118 --> 00:22:55.354
And i can't thank you enough for these great lessons and thanks
00:22:55.354 --> 00:22:59.926
For coming on "takeaways."
00:22:59.926 --> 00:23:01.260
Bethany: thank you so much.
00:23:01.260 --> 00:23:02.628
God bless y'all.
00:23:02.628 --> 00:23:03.963
Kirk: after the break, high wire walker nik wallenda will join us
00:23:03.963 --> 00:23:07.433
Sharing his experiences and advice on controlling our
00:23:07.433 --> 00:23:11.237
Fearful thoughts and not letting them control us.
00:23:11.237 --> 00:23:14.740
Stay with us.
00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:21.993
Stay with us.
00:23:21.993 --> 00:23:25.518
Kirk: nik wallenda is a 7th generation member of the
00:23:29.622 --> 00:23:32.658
Legendary high wire aerialists, the wallenda family.
00:23:32.658 --> 00:23:36.529
He holds 11 guinness world records for various acrobatic
00:23:36.529 --> 00:23:40.233
Feats, and he's best known as the first person to walk a
00:23:40.233 --> 00:23:43.135
Tightrope stretched directly over niagara falls.
00:23:43.135 --> 00:23:46.706
He's also the author of "facing fear: step out in faith and rise
00:23:46.706 --> 00:23:52.044
Above what's holding you back."
00:23:52.044 --> 00:23:53.880
Nik, i'm really honored to meet you and to have you
00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:56.582
On "takeaways."
00:23:56.582 --> 00:23:57.917
Nik: honored to be here, thank you.
00:23:57.917 --> 00:23:59.285
Kirk: i'm so glad that you're here and that, you know, you do
00:23:59.285 --> 00:24:02.622
Crazy things.
00:24:02.622 --> 00:24:03.956
I remember seeing you on television, and i think you were
00:24:03.956 --> 00:24:06.025
Walking across the grand canyon at the time, and what really
00:24:06.025 --> 00:24:08.794
Stuck out to me was that you were settling your spirit and
00:24:08.794 --> 00:24:13.432
Focusing your mind by reciting scripture.
00:24:13.432 --> 00:24:17.136
Nik: yeah, well, the word promises a peace that passes
00:24:17.136 --> 00:24:19.171
All understanding.
00:24:19.171 --> 00:24:20.773
And people ask me all the time, how do you stay peaceful in a
00:24:20.773 --> 00:24:22.742
Stressful situation?
00:24:22.742 --> 00:24:24.076
Well, i cast all my cares to my lord and savior jesus christ.
00:24:24.076 --> 00:24:28.414
And that is how i'm able to get through, get across from one
00:24:28.414 --> 00:24:31.217
Side to the other.
00:24:31.217 --> 00:24:32.552
Kirk: man, that's so cool.
00:24:32.552 --> 00:24:33.920
And the whole time you're going across that tightrope and
00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:36.455
Literally millions of people are watching you live on all of
00:24:36.455 --> 00:24:39.458
These television networks, you're reciting scripture and
00:24:39.458 --> 00:24:42.795
They're hearing it whether they want to or not.
00:24:42.795 --> 00:24:44.864
Nik: that's right.
00:24:44.864 --> 00:24:46.198
Kirk: what will it profit a man if he gains
00:24:46.198 --> 00:24:47.533
The whole world and loses his soul?
00:24:47.533 --> 00:24:48.901
John 3:16, and i'm just thinking, there's no way they're
00:24:48.901 --> 00:24:52.338
Gonna turn away, they're gonna listen until you recite the
00:24:52.338 --> 00:24:55.541
Entire bible because they want to know if you make it across.
00:24:55.541 --> 00:24:57.877
Nik: yeah, you know, it's interesting.
00:24:57.877 --> 00:24:59.712
My first television special was over niagara falls live on abc.
00:24:59.712 --> 00:25:03.282
And i knew i was miked, and i was in communication with my
00:25:03.282 --> 00:25:06.819
Father the entire time because he oversees my engineering and
00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:09.322
My safety.
00:25:09.322 --> 00:25:10.656
But they were going to ask me, hey, nik, in my inner ear
00:25:10.656 --> 00:25:12.792
Monitor, can we turn on your microphone?
00:25:12.792 --> 00:25:16.495
And they never asked me, but my microphone was live, and i
00:25:16.495 --> 00:25:18.965
Didn't know that.
00:25:18.965 --> 00:25:20.299
But the entire time i was praising our lord and savior for
00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:22.034
The opportunity.
00:25:22.034 --> 00:25:23.369
This is a dream of mine that, i mean, frankly, there were 15
00:25:23.369 --> 00:25:26.072
Other wire walkers that tried to get permission to do it, we
00:25:26.072 --> 00:25:28.174
Never granted permission over the past 100 years.
00:25:28.174 --> 00:25:31.310
It took changing two laws, one in the united states over 100
00:25:31.310 --> 00:25:33.946
Years old and one in canada in order to get permission to do
00:25:33.946 --> 00:25:36.248
That walk.
00:25:36.248 --> 00:25:37.583
So i believe that god moved these mountains.
00:25:37.583 --> 00:25:39.318
But through that process of getting permission, there were
00:25:39.318 --> 00:25:42.355
Many times where i remember thinking back and going, lord,
00:25:42.355 --> 00:25:45.825
Why are you moving these mountains?
00:25:45.825 --> 00:25:47.159
How are you gonna get glory out of me walking a wire over
00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:49.195
Niagara falls?
00:25:49.195 --> 00:25:50.563
It's a dream of mine, but did you place that desire in
00:25:50.563 --> 00:25:52.999
My heart?
00:25:52.999 --> 00:25:54.367
And i always lean on proverbs 3:5, and 6, "trust in the
00:25:54.367 --> 00:25:56.102
Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understandings."
00:25:56.102 --> 00:25:58.204
But i was trying to understand it myself.
00:25:58.204 --> 00:25:59.905
"in all your ways acknowledge him, and he'll fill the desires
00:25:59.905 --> 00:26:01.974
Of your heart."
00:26:01.974 --> 00:26:03.309
And so these laws were changed on walking and again, god knows
00:26:03.309 --> 00:26:06.912
The beginning from the end.
00:26:06.912 --> 00:26:08.247
But i remember thinking, lord, and in tears on my couch like,
00:26:08.247 --> 00:26:10.683
Man, you have just moved mountains for me to fulfill
00:26:10.683 --> 00:26:12.785
This dream.
00:26:12.785 --> 00:26:14.153
Thank you so much, so gracious.
00:26:14.153 --> 00:26:15.488
How are you gonna get glory out of it?
00:26:15.488 --> 00:26:16.856
So as i was walking across, they turned my microphone on.
00:26:16.856 --> 00:26:19.892
And i didn't even know it was on.
00:26:19.892 --> 00:26:21.260
The following day, i started getting testimony after
00:26:21.260 --> 00:26:23.329
Testimony of people that said, you know, you have transformed
00:26:23.329 --> 00:26:27.299
My faith by your word and renewed my faith in our lord
00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:31.837
And savior.
00:26:31.837 --> 00:26:33.205
Because of seeing you and your trust in him, i realize now i
00:26:33.205 --> 00:26:35.941
Can trust in him.
00:26:35.941 --> 00:26:37.276
Kirk: that's so cool, nik.
00:26:37.276 --> 00:26:38.644
The scriptures tell us that the word of the lord, it goes out,
00:26:38.644 --> 00:26:42.348
You know, and like rain, it accomplishes what god wants it
00:26:42.348 --> 00:26:45.651
To accomplish, and it starts to sprout those seeds and they come
00:26:45.651 --> 00:26:48.921
Up, it doesn't return void.
00:26:48.921 --> 00:26:50.389
And you didn't even know that people were listening to you.
00:26:50.389 --> 00:26:52.725
Nik: that's right.
00:26:52.725 --> 00:26:54.427
Kirk: that's so cool.
00:26:54.427 --> 00:26:55.795
So you wrote this amazing book with a phenomenal cover.
00:26:55.795 --> 00:26:57.863
I mean, here you are.
00:26:57.863 --> 00:26:59.231
It's called "facing fear," and here you are walking a tightrope
00:26:59.231 --> 00:27:02.101
Over what looks like the fires of hell.
00:27:02.101 --> 00:27:04.737
What?
00:27:04.737 --> 00:27:06.072
Why did you write this book?
00:27:06.072 --> 00:27:07.473
Nik: so my family and i, long history, over 200 years have
00:27:07.473 --> 00:27:10.943
Been performing on tight ropes.
00:27:10.943 --> 00:27:12.945
And we have this drive in us to carry on this legacy.
00:27:12.945 --> 00:27:17.149
And we had been training as a family to break our own family's
00:27:17.149 --> 00:27:20.619
World record for a 7-person pyramid on the wire.
00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:22.988
We were training for an 8-person pyramid.
00:27:22.988 --> 00:27:25.157
And after training several months in our backyard in
00:27:25.157 --> 00:27:26.992
Sarasota, successfully, we decided we were ready to take it
00:27:26.992 --> 00:27:30.029
Up high, and practice two more times before we were gonna
00:27:30.029 --> 00:27:32.998
Premiere to guinness world records and to a live audience.
00:27:32.998 --> 00:27:36.068
And it was during that rehearsal that my worst nightmare became
00:27:36.068 --> 00:27:39.038
A reality.
00:27:39.038 --> 00:27:40.439
As we were making our way out on that wire, that
00:27:40.439 --> 00:27:42.241
Pyramid collapsed.
00:27:42.241 --> 00:27:43.843
And when it collapsed, five of my closest friends, family
00:27:43.843 --> 00:27:46.912
Members fell to the ground.
00:27:46.912 --> 00:27:49.381
Miraculously, and by the grace of god, i caught the wire, and
00:27:49.381 --> 00:27:51.951
So did two others.
00:27:51.951 --> 00:27:53.786
But i'll never forget making my way to the ground and checking
00:27:53.786 --> 00:27:55.888
On my family members, and literally laying hands on them
00:27:55.888 --> 00:27:59.091
And speaking in tongues over my sister at one point.
00:27:59.091 --> 00:28:01.393
My sister had fallen over 40-feet directly to her head.
00:28:01.393 --> 00:28:06.465
By the time i got to her less than 60 seconds after the fall,
00:28:06.465 --> 00:28:08.934
She was unrecognizable.
00:28:08.934 --> 00:28:11.537
And i remember getting in the ambulance, going to the
00:28:11.537 --> 00:28:13.339
Hospital, and just saying, "lord, how did this happen?
00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:18.544
Why did this happen?
00:28:18.544 --> 00:28:19.879
What did i do wrong?
00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:21.213
Why did i allow this to happen?"
00:28:21.213 --> 00:28:22.581
I was in control of this pyramid, and i was the one who
00:28:22.581 --> 00:28:25.985
Arranged it all and got my sister involved and invited her
00:28:25.985 --> 00:28:28.287
To be a part of it, and i took on all this weight.
00:28:28.287 --> 00:28:30.623
And i remember the lord saying to me at that moment, "i worketh
00:28:30.623 --> 00:28:37.062
All things together for good for those who love me."
00:28:37.062 --> 00:28:40.533
And statistics say you have about a 30% chance of surviving
00:28:40.533 --> 00:28:43.402
A fall greater than 40-feet, and we had five.
00:28:43.402 --> 00:28:46.772
Within the next couple of days, four of them were released from
00:28:46.772 --> 00:28:49.542
The hospital.
00:28:49.542 --> 00:28:51.343
And my sister's still in the hospital, for about two
00:28:51.343 --> 00:28:54.613
More weeks.
00:28:54.613 --> 00:28:55.948
But miraculously, she was recovered.
00:28:55.948 --> 00:28:58.784
She had broken every bone in her face.
00:28:58.784 --> 00:29:00.719
She currently has 73 screws and plates in her face alone.
00:29:00.719 --> 00:29:04.423
But from that, through that situation, she was able to--she
00:29:04.423 --> 00:29:10.162
Got back on a wire.
00:29:10.162 --> 00:29:11.497
In fact, she could barely stand up after she got out of
00:29:11.497 --> 00:29:14.033
The hospital.
00:29:14.033 --> 00:29:15.401
She was in a wheelchair.
00:29:15.401 --> 00:29:16.735
But when she got home from the hospital two weeks later, the
00:29:16.735 --> 00:29:19.905
First thing she wanted to do was see if she could
00:29:19.905 --> 00:29:21.473
Stand on a wire.
00:29:21.473 --> 00:29:22.975
And over the next nine months, she trained on the wire.
00:29:22.975 --> 00:29:27.146
And then was able to fulfill a dream of hers, which was to walk
00:29:27.146 --> 00:29:30.516
Over times square with me on a wire.
00:29:30.516 --> 00:29:34.587
It was live on abc, the entire time giving praises to our lord
00:29:34.587 --> 00:29:38.257
And savior jesus christ, singing worship songs, which was aired
00:29:38.257 --> 00:29:40.926
Live again around the world, 13 million people watched
00:29:40.926 --> 00:29:43.329
That live.
00:29:43.329 --> 00:29:44.663
And again, testimony after testimony, and now she has an
00:29:44.663 --> 00:29:46.799
Amazing career where she is in the process of writing a book.
00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:49.835
She speaks and motivates all groups, but women that are
00:29:49.835 --> 00:29:54.540
Overcoming major challenges that they've faced in their life.
00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:57.109
Of course, we know that we can be vain, especially as
00:29:57.109 --> 00:30:00.779
Entertainers, and she lost everything.
00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:03.015
She lost her beauty, she lost all of that.
00:30:03.015 --> 00:30:04.483
Now she's regained all that to the glory of god.
00:30:04.483 --> 00:30:07.019
But through that process, she's now been able to use it again,
00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:09.922
To continually encourage and inspire others and bring glory
00:30:09.922 --> 00:30:12.825
To his name.
00:30:12.825 --> 00:30:14.193
Kirk: you're telling me that the same sister that fell off of the
00:30:14.193 --> 00:30:17.229
Wire and broke her face and had very little chance of
00:30:17.229 --> 00:30:22.835
Survival got back on a rope and walked across times square and
00:30:22.835 --> 00:30:27.940
Is still doing it today?
00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:29.275
Nik: that's right, less than a year later.
00:30:29.275 --> 00:30:30.643
Kirk: nik, this is amazing.
00:30:30.643 --> 00:30:33.012
If anyone understands fear and how to face fear, it's you and
00:30:33.012 --> 00:30:36.916
Your sister.
00:30:36.916 --> 00:30:38.284
So was fear something that you faced prior to the accident, or
00:30:38.284 --> 00:30:42.688
Did you have no fear because no accident had ever happened?
00:30:42.688 --> 00:30:45.524
Nik: you know, i would say i didn't have fear when it came
00:30:45.524 --> 00:30:48.193
To wire-walking.
00:30:48.193 --> 00:30:49.561
There were other fears that i dealt with my life for sure,
00:30:49.561 --> 00:30:51.163
Off the wire.
00:30:51.163 --> 00:30:52.498
And they were actually more, there were bigger challenges
00:30:52.498 --> 00:30:55.234
Than anything i'd ever faced on the wire were the fears i faced
00:30:55.234 --> 00:30:57.703
Off the wire.
00:30:57.703 --> 00:30:59.071
But yeah, i mean, look, we were raised that, you know, you have
00:30:59.071 --> 00:31:06.378
Confidence in your training, your preparation.
00:31:06.378 --> 00:31:10.582
And you don't focus on the fear, you focus on your achievement.
00:31:10.582 --> 00:31:14.787
You focus on the other side, you know, it's like our walk with
00:31:14.787 --> 00:31:17.356
God, right?
00:31:17.356 --> 00:31:18.724
We face all these challenges, but as long as we continue to
00:31:18.724 --> 00:31:20.526
Keep our eyes on him, focus on him, we'll make it safely to the
00:31:20.526 --> 00:31:23.062
Other side.
00:31:23.062 --> 00:31:24.430
And that's the same with us, and that's what we
00:31:24.430 --> 00:31:25.764
Were taught walking the wire.
00:31:25.764 --> 00:31:27.132
I'm not looking at the falls, and i'm not looking at
00:31:27.132 --> 00:31:28.634
All the water, and all of that stuff.
00:31:28.634 --> 00:31:29.969
I'm focusing on the rock on the other side.
00:31:29.969 --> 00:31:32.304
But yes, after this accident, what i didn't realize, see, i
00:31:32.304 --> 00:31:35.374
Wasn't physically injured when that accident happened, but i
00:31:35.374 --> 00:31:38.243
Was emotionally--
00:31:38.243 --> 00:31:39.578
Kirk: and mentally traumatized.
00:31:39.578 --> 00:31:40.913
Nik: and i didn't know that, yeah.
00:31:40.913 --> 00:31:42.281
And so i got back on the wire the following day, and i
00:31:42.281 --> 00:31:44.616
Actually spoke to a group.
00:31:44.616 --> 00:31:45.985
I walked over an arena and spoke to about 15,000 people.
00:31:45.985 --> 00:31:49.388
And after that walk, i got back in the wire and performed for
00:31:49.388 --> 00:31:52.825
The next two weeks straight.
00:31:52.825 --> 00:31:54.593
And i took some time off.
00:31:54.593 --> 00:31:55.928
And it was during that time off that i began to realize that
00:31:55.928 --> 00:31:59.031
There was this seed planted in my mind, and it was seed
00:31:59.031 --> 00:32:00.799
Of fear.
00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.134
And that i began to water that seed.
00:32:02.134 --> 00:32:03.502
I began to tell that seed, you know what,
00:32:03.502 --> 00:32:04.837
You're right, i am a failure.
00:32:04.837 --> 00:32:06.171
Yeah, you're right, i could fall.
00:32:06.171 --> 00:32:07.506
You know what? i might die.
00:32:07.506 --> 00:32:08.841
Kirk: this is stupid. why am i doing this?
00:32:08.841 --> 00:32:10.242
My family's getting hurt. like, what am i doing?
00:32:10.242 --> 00:32:12.878
Nik: and i continued to water that to the point where it
00:32:12.878 --> 00:32:15.314
Became completely debilitating, eventually, of being diagnosed
00:32:15.314 --> 00:32:19.818
With a form of ptsd, and having to deal with that trauma.
00:32:19.818 --> 00:32:22.921
Kirk: man, and that's understandable.
00:32:22.921 --> 00:32:25.190
And you go into this subject of fear, and then facing your
00:32:25.190 --> 00:32:28.761
Fears, and then working with your fears.
00:32:28.761 --> 00:32:31.063
Explain to us the difference between working with your fears
00:32:31.063 --> 00:32:35.000
And working against them.
00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.335
Nik: yeah, so look, i think that fear can be very healthy.
00:32:36.335 --> 00:32:41.407
You know, it's a healthy respect, if you will.
00:32:41.407 --> 00:32:43.942
I think that fear and respect are very much very parallel.
00:32:43.942 --> 00:32:47.813
I respect the fact that i could face high winds, so i
00:32:47.813 --> 00:32:51.583
Train properly and prepare properly.
00:32:51.583 --> 00:32:53.419
For instance, over the grand canyon, i trained with 120 mile
00:32:53.419 --> 00:32:56.021
An hour winds, knowing from studies over the previous five
00:32:56.021 --> 00:32:58.824
Years that it wouldn't exceed 65 miles per hour.
00:32:58.824 --> 00:33:02.194
So it's all about training, but again, because i respect it.
00:33:02.194 --> 00:33:06.965
When i walk up to the edge of the building, it's not like i
00:33:06.965 --> 00:33:08.934
Go, oh, i'm just at the edge of the building.
00:33:08.934 --> 00:33:10.302
No, i respect it, i stay back as well, because there's danger on
00:33:10.302 --> 00:33:12.938
The other side.
00:33:12.938 --> 00:33:14.540
There's a healthy respect for a snake in the garden.
00:33:14.540 --> 00:33:17.209
Of course, it's smart, it's don't go up and grab that snake.
00:33:17.209 --> 00:33:19.545
If you don't know what type of snake it is, respect it.
00:33:19.545 --> 00:33:22.314
So fear can be good for you.
00:33:22.314 --> 00:33:23.649
You can use it for your good, or it can destroy you.
00:33:23.649 --> 00:33:26.151
You know, it can destroy you.
00:33:26.151 --> 00:33:27.486
I use it to motivate me to continue to push myself to do
00:33:27.486 --> 00:33:31.390
Better things.
00:33:31.390 --> 00:33:32.724
But it also, you know, wisdom has to be in play as well.
00:33:32.724 --> 00:33:37.029
Kirk: nik, you talk in your book as well about the importance of
00:33:37.029 --> 00:33:39.364
Mental focus, about taking control of your thoughts.
00:33:39.364 --> 00:33:44.069
Was mental focus prior to the accident different than your
00:33:44.069 --> 00:33:49.341
Mental focus is today?
00:33:49.341 --> 00:33:52.144
Nik: you know, i think it's similar, but i'd forgotten.
00:33:52.144 --> 00:33:56.281
During that moment of trauma, when i started to deal with that
00:33:56.281 --> 00:33:59.251
Seed that i started watering more and more, it became
00:33:59.251 --> 00:34:03.555
Overcoming and i forgot my mental focus, i forgot how to
00:34:03.555 --> 00:34:07.826
Focus and what to focus on.
00:34:07.826 --> 00:34:09.895
And again, look, i can walk into this room thinking, you know
00:34:09.895 --> 00:34:13.165
What, i'm gonna talk and i'm gonna sound like a fool and look
00:34:13.165 --> 00:34:15.901
Like a fool, and my friends are gonna see it and think
00:34:15.901 --> 00:34:18.370
I'm stupid.
00:34:18.370 --> 00:34:19.738
Or i can say, you know what?
00:34:19.738 --> 00:34:21.073
I'm here, i am created by god, i'm representing him, and i'm
00:34:21.073 --> 00:34:24.309
Gonna speak his word and let him speak through me.
00:34:24.309 --> 00:34:26.311
So it's that mindset leading into a conversation or anything
00:34:26.311 --> 00:34:30.516
That we deal with.
00:34:30.516 --> 00:34:31.950
Kirk: in chapter 5 of your book, you talk about the path to
00:34:31.950 --> 00:34:37.022
Overcoming fear is not a straight line.
00:34:37.022 --> 00:34:39.758
It's not like a tightrope.
00:34:39.758 --> 00:34:41.126
What do you mean by that?
00:34:41.126 --> 00:34:42.628
Nik: look, i think that it would be easy if it was a
00:34:42.628 --> 00:34:46.098
Straight line.
00:34:46.098 --> 00:34:47.432
We'd just go straight across from one side to the other.
00:34:47.432 --> 00:34:48.901
But the reality is we face so many challenges.
00:34:48.901 --> 00:34:52.271
And it's our walk with god, right?
00:34:52.271 --> 00:34:53.605
There are so many times where we are thrown off kilter, and of
00:34:53.605 --> 00:34:56.808
Course, he always welcomes us back with open arms.
00:34:56.808 --> 00:34:58.777
But it's important that we always come back to that
00:34:58.777 --> 00:35:01.480
Line again.
00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.848
And it's the same with fear.
00:35:02.848 --> 00:35:04.183
Fear can be debilitating.
00:35:04.183 --> 00:35:05.684
Again, you can accept that fear, you can embrace that fear, or
00:35:05.684 --> 00:35:10.222
You can cast your cares upon him.
00:35:10.222 --> 00:35:12.457
And that's what i believe is the key to overcoming fear is to
00:35:12.457 --> 00:35:16.995
Continually cast those cares upon him.
00:35:16.995 --> 00:35:19.131
Kirk: you mentioned a minute ago about working with fear, not
00:35:19.131 --> 00:35:23.035
Against fear, and fear being similar to a really healthy
00:35:23.035 --> 00:35:27.105
Respect for something.
00:35:27.105 --> 00:35:28.440
You also talk about some fear being good fear and some fear
00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:31.643
Being bad fear.
00:35:31.643 --> 00:35:33.011
What's the difference and how can we tell the difference?
00:35:33.011 --> 00:35:36.515
Nik: well, i think wisdom and common sense come into play
00:35:36.515 --> 00:35:39.284
Quite often when it comes to fear.
00:35:39.284 --> 00:35:40.919
Like, again, you walk up to the edge of a skyscraper and you're
00:35:40.919 --> 00:35:43.622
On the roof, hey, you know what, i'm gonna respect this, i'm
00:35:43.622 --> 00:35:46.491
Gonna back down.
00:35:46.491 --> 00:35:47.826
Kirk: that's a good fear.
00:35:47.826 --> 00:35:49.194
Nik: however, there are some people that don't have those
00:35:49.194 --> 00:35:50.596
Respects, that don't have those limitations.
00:35:50.596 --> 00:35:52.030
And again, i think that's where wisdom comes into play.
00:35:52.030 --> 00:35:54.766
People often ask me, look, you're a man of faith, aren't
00:35:54.766 --> 00:35:56.702
You tempting god every time you get on the wire?
00:35:56.702 --> 00:35:59.071
Well, look, the reality is, i believe that god has given me
00:35:59.071 --> 00:36:02.407
This talent, and i use it to bring glory to his name.
00:36:02.407 --> 00:36:05.677
Do i go up on the wire and say, god, all right, if you're real,
00:36:05.677 --> 00:36:07.679
Hold me up here?
00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:09.014
No. can he?
00:36:09.014 --> 00:36:10.349
Of course he still performs miracles.
00:36:10.349 --> 00:36:11.683
But that would be testing god.
00:36:11.683 --> 00:36:13.018
I train and prepare properly for the talents and gifts that he's
00:36:13.018 --> 00:36:15.754
Given me so that i'm ready to face any challenge.
00:36:15.754 --> 00:36:18.390
Where my faith comes into play is that i know where i'm gonna
00:36:18.390 --> 00:36:20.959
Go, whether i were to die in an airplane crash and a car crash
00:36:20.959 --> 00:36:23.595
Or of natural causes or in a wire accident, i have the
00:36:23.595 --> 00:36:27.399
Confidence of knowing where i'm gonna go when i die.
00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:30.535
Kirk: wow, we're gonna talk more with nik about how to control
00:36:30.535 --> 00:36:34.806
Your anxious thoughts and feelings when
00:36:34.806 --> 00:36:37.075
You're overwhelmed.
00:36:37.075 --> 00:36:38.510
So fear not, we'll be right back.
00:36:38.510 --> 00:36:46.991
So fear not, we'll be right back.
00:36:46.991 --> 00:36:50.123
Kirk: we're back with acrobat and highwire artist nik wallenda
00:36:54.327 --> 00:36:57.764
Talking about facing your fears.
00:36:57.764 --> 00:37:00.266
Now nik, already in our conversation, it is obvious to
00:37:00.266 --> 00:37:03.369
All of us that your faith has played a major part in
00:37:03.369 --> 00:37:06.105
Your journey.
00:37:06.105 --> 00:37:07.440
So can you share with us how faith has laid out your path,
00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:12.211
Both on the wire and off the wire?
00:37:12.211 --> 00:37:14.414
Nik: yeah, you know, it's interesting.
00:37:14.414 --> 00:37:15.882
I was raised in a christian household.
00:37:15.882 --> 00:37:18.451
I gave my life to christ when i was three years old, at our
00:37:18.451 --> 00:37:22.555
Children's church.
00:37:22.555 --> 00:37:23.923
So i was raised with that faith.
00:37:23.923 --> 00:37:25.892
So it was sort of just built in me and part of me.
00:37:25.892 --> 00:37:28.628
One of my struggles as a teenager was, we all are trying
00:37:28.628 --> 00:37:31.464
To find our purpose, right?
00:37:31.464 --> 00:37:32.799
Especially as a teenager, what's my purpose?
00:37:32.799 --> 00:37:34.300
What's my purpose?
00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:35.635
And i remember, i was in youth group every week and i'm like,
00:37:35.635 --> 00:37:37.770
Okay, lord, i know we're all called to bring glory to your
00:37:37.770 --> 00:37:39.806
Name, we're all called to lead people to christ.
00:37:39.806 --> 00:37:42.141
So but how am i gonna do that and i have this passion for
00:37:42.141 --> 00:37:45.545
Wire-walking, and i want to carry on this family legacy.
00:37:45.545 --> 00:37:47.814
So how am i gonna merge the two together?
00:37:47.814 --> 00:37:50.783
And i struggled with that a lot as a teenager.
00:37:50.783 --> 00:37:53.419
Now i have realized that really our purpose in life, no matter
00:37:53.419 --> 00:37:58.224
What we do, again, is to lead people to christ.
00:37:58.224 --> 00:38:01.894
It's not about what we do, it's how we do it.
00:38:01.894 --> 00:38:04.597
In the workplace, people always ask, i'm a plumber, how am i
00:38:04.597 --> 00:38:07.600
Gonna do that?
00:38:07.600 --> 00:38:08.968
Well, we all can lead by faith.
00:38:08.968 --> 00:38:10.303
I have a close friend that has a pretty big business, an
00:38:10.303 --> 00:38:12.004
Air conditioning business.
00:38:12.004 --> 00:38:13.339
And they call it a for-profit christian ministry, and they
00:38:13.339 --> 00:38:16.109
Actually have a pastoral staff on their air conditioning and
00:38:16.109 --> 00:38:19.145
They follow up with these clients where they'll go into
00:38:19.145 --> 00:38:21.280
Their house and pray for the families, they deliver them
00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:23.282
A bible.
00:38:23.282 --> 00:38:24.617
It is beautiful what they do and i think we can all do that and
00:38:24.617 --> 00:38:27.120
We all should do that.
00:38:27.120 --> 00:38:29.188
And i think so many people are ashamed.
00:38:29.188 --> 00:38:32.558
They're fearful of like, well, you know, if i'm gonna share
00:38:32.558 --> 00:38:35.995
Christ in the workplace, they're gonna kick me out or they're not
00:38:35.995 --> 00:38:38.464
Gonna welcome me.
00:38:38.464 --> 00:38:39.799
Well, look, the reality is, what i know is that if god is for me,
00:38:39.799 --> 00:38:43.603
Who can be against me?
00:38:43.603 --> 00:38:45.138
So if he's on my side, who cares what they think?
00:38:45.138 --> 00:38:48.174
I'm gonna continue to speak the name of jesus and preach the
00:38:48.174 --> 00:38:50.676
Name of jesus over people, and if they don't like it,
00:38:50.676 --> 00:38:53.012
That's okay.
00:38:53.012 --> 00:38:54.447
Kirk: wow, we can all learn a lesson from that, and i
00:38:54.447 --> 00:39:00.420
Love that.
00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:02.422
You say in your book that one of the most common fears that
00:39:02.422 --> 00:39:05.691
People have today is the fear of uncertainty.
00:39:05.691 --> 00:39:10.062
Uncertainty about the future, what if this happens, or what
00:39:10.062 --> 00:39:15.334
Happens if things go that way with my job or my health or my
00:39:15.334 --> 00:39:19.238
Relationships or my finances?
00:39:19.238 --> 00:39:21.574
How can you help with the fear of uncertainty?
00:39:21.574 --> 00:39:24.444
Nik: yeah, we all deal with the fear of what ifs, right?
00:39:24.444 --> 00:39:27.447
But the reality is they're only a fear in our mind because we've
00:39:27.447 --> 00:39:30.049
Created them, because what if.
00:39:30.049 --> 00:39:31.617
What if i lose my job?
00:39:31.617 --> 00:39:32.952
Kirk: it's not reality yet.
00:39:32.952 --> 00:39:34.287
Nik: what if i get sick? what if, what if?
00:39:34.287 --> 00:39:35.922
So the reality is, i think i continually cast those to god,
00:39:35.922 --> 00:39:39.125
Those thoughts to god.
00:39:39.125 --> 00:39:40.460
Lord, take those thoughts away. it truly works.
00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:43.896
In the beginning, i started practicing that.
00:39:43.896 --> 00:39:45.264
Okay, all right, lord, take that thought away.
00:39:45.264 --> 00:39:46.599
I start thinking something negative about myself.
00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:48.401
All right, lord, take that thought away.
00:39:48.401 --> 00:39:49.735
And i would literally have learned to redirect my thoughts.
00:39:49.735 --> 00:39:53.105
Now, i'm not gonna focus on the wind, i'm gonna focus on
00:39:53.105 --> 00:39:55.641
My training.
00:39:55.641 --> 00:39:56.976
When i train on a wire for walking over the grand canyon, i
00:39:56.976 --> 00:39:59.111
Train with 120 mile an hour winds, big wind machines.
00:39:59.111 --> 00:40:01.914
They turn on and off.
00:40:01.914 --> 00:40:03.249
I'm on a wire that's not as stable, i'm on a wire that is
00:40:03.249 --> 00:40:06.786
Much looser.
00:40:06.786 --> 00:40:08.154
It's much more difficult to wire-walk.
00:40:08.154 --> 00:40:09.555
Kirk: yeah, harder than it's gonna be when you do
00:40:09.555 --> 00:40:10.890
The real deal.
00:40:10.890 --> 00:40:12.258
Nik: and while i'm walking on that wire, i'm envisioning
00:40:12.258 --> 00:40:13.593
Walking over the grand canyon or over an active volcano or
00:40:13.593 --> 00:40:15.127
Times square or wherever i am.
00:40:15.127 --> 00:40:16.462
I'm continually envisioning that.
00:40:16.462 --> 00:40:18.397
Well, when i'm over the grand canyon or times square or a
00:40:18.397 --> 00:40:20.366
Volcano, i'm focusing in my backyard on that wire in
00:40:20.366 --> 00:40:22.869
My training.
00:40:22.869 --> 00:40:24.237
And i think that it is so important that we learn to
00:40:24.237 --> 00:40:26.439
Redirect our thoughts and counter them.
00:40:26.439 --> 00:40:28.641
Often i counter my negative thoughts with scripture.
00:40:28.641 --> 00:40:31.444
If i'm gonna think negative on myself, i'm gonna replace that
00:40:31.444 --> 00:40:34.247
With the word of god.
00:40:34.247 --> 00:40:35.581
And i encourage people to do that as you have those
00:40:35.581 --> 00:40:37.383
Negative thoughts.
00:40:37.383 --> 00:40:38.718
It doesn't happen overnight.
00:40:38.718 --> 00:40:40.052
And i still struggle with that sometimes.
00:40:40.052 --> 00:40:41.854
But what i've learned is the more that you practice it, the
00:40:41.854 --> 00:40:44.156
More it sets in, and the less you fear, the less you deal with
00:40:44.156 --> 00:40:48.027
The what ifs.
00:40:48.027 --> 00:40:49.395
Because why am i fearing about something that's not even
00:40:49.395 --> 00:40:50.730
A reality?
00:40:50.730 --> 00:40:52.098
If you think about it with common sense, it doesn't
00:40:52.098 --> 00:40:54.000
Make sense.
00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:55.368
Why would we fear something that we're making up in our minds
00:40:55.368 --> 00:40:57.236
That could be, that might happen, rather than focusing on
00:40:57.236 --> 00:41:01.307
Our lives where we are today?
00:41:01.307 --> 00:41:02.675
The bible says don't worry about tomorrow, today has enough
00:41:02.675 --> 00:41:04.644
Troubles of its own.
00:41:04.644 --> 00:41:05.978
Worry about today, don't worry about tomorrow, don't worry
00:41:05.978 --> 00:41:07.947
About the future.
00:41:07.947 --> 00:41:09.315
Because if god is for you, again, he is leading you, he's
00:41:09.315 --> 00:41:11.484
Going before you in all things.
00:41:11.484 --> 00:41:13.052
Kirk: man, this is so cool.
00:41:13.052 --> 00:41:14.387
I'd love to have a whole conversation with you just
00:41:14.387 --> 00:41:15.755
About the power of the mind.
00:41:15.755 --> 00:41:17.123
And i'm not one of these self-help guru guys who thinks
00:41:17.123 --> 00:41:20.026
That somehow my mind is god and, you know, it can create
00:41:20.026 --> 00:41:24.196
Universes and realities just by me saying stuff.
00:41:24.196 --> 00:41:27.333
But the scriptures tell us that we are to have the mind of
00:41:27.333 --> 00:41:31.304
Christ and that i'm to take every thought captive.
00:41:31.304 --> 00:41:34.640
And then in philippians, i believe, you even have this in
00:41:34.640 --> 00:41:37.109
Your book, in this chapter about controlling your thoughts, is
00:41:37.109 --> 00:41:40.446
That whatever is good, whatever is true, whatever is
00:41:40.446 --> 00:41:42.682
Praiseworthy, whatever is admirable, whatever is noble,
00:41:42.682 --> 00:41:45.551
Think on these things.
00:41:45.551 --> 00:41:47.053
Why does god say that?
00:41:47.053 --> 00:41:48.387
Well, i believe that we get into this stinking thinking mindset.
00:41:48.387 --> 00:41:52.992
And if i don't think that i can do it, i'm for sure gonna fail.
00:41:52.992 --> 00:41:58.564
But i can do all things through christ who gives me strength,
00:41:58.564 --> 00:42:01.400
And i'm more than a conqueror through christ who loves me and
00:42:01.400 --> 00:42:04.236
Gave me, right?
00:42:04.236 --> 00:42:05.605
So if i go there, then i'm in a mindset where i can have
00:42:05.605 --> 00:42:09.675
Confidence, and i can trust, and i can have faith, and i can have
00:42:09.675 --> 00:42:12.545
Hope, and then that gives me courage.
00:42:12.545 --> 00:42:14.814
Nik: that's right.
00:42:14.814 --> 00:42:16.182
Kirk: so it's true.
00:42:16.182 --> 00:42:18.484
You know, i can't think myself into a 6 foot 3 tall, muscular
00:42:18.484 --> 00:42:24.290
Man, you know, with a blue bloods mustache, you know?
00:42:24.290 --> 00:42:29.662
But what i can do is i can take control of my thoughts and bring
00:42:29.662 --> 00:42:34.600
Them into submission to the truth that i find in god's word.
00:42:34.600 --> 00:42:37.770
Nik: that's right.
00:42:37.770 --> 00:42:39.105
Kirk: all right, let's move on to practical steps people can
00:42:39.105 --> 00:42:42.308
Take to control their thoughts and feelings when their feelings
00:42:42.308 --> 00:42:47.179
Become overwhelming.
00:42:47.179 --> 00:42:50.082
Nik: you know, i think, again, for me, it is really, look, our
00:42:50.082 --> 00:42:54.120
Minds are a powerful tool.
00:42:54.120 --> 00:42:56.722
And god obviously created them.
00:42:56.722 --> 00:42:59.492
So i encourage people, again, the power of the mind, it is so
00:42:59.492 --> 00:43:03.729
Powerful when it aligns, as you so eloquently just spoke, when
00:43:03.729 --> 00:43:08.501
It aligns with god's word.
00:43:08.501 --> 00:43:09.869
It's so important because i think some of us do believe in
00:43:09.869 --> 00:43:12.371
This hocus pocus sort of, you know, we can envision ourselves
00:43:12.371 --> 00:43:15.675
Being 6 foot tall and the reality is that's not reality.
00:43:15.675 --> 00:43:20.379
It doesn't align with god's word either.
00:43:20.379 --> 00:43:21.714
Kirk: yeah, and sometimes things don't go the way that you expect
00:43:21.714 --> 00:43:23.849
Them to.
00:43:23.849 --> 00:43:25.217
Nik: that's right.
00:43:25.217 --> 00:43:26.552
That's right, but again, when they don't, just know that as
00:43:26.552 --> 00:43:28.487
Long as god is for you, no one can be against you.
00:43:28.487 --> 00:43:30.890
So and he will use them just like that accident in 2017 where
00:43:30.890 --> 00:43:34.393
Five of our family members statistically shouldn't be
00:43:34.393 --> 00:43:36.562
Alive, all of them less than a year later got back on the wire.
00:43:36.562 --> 00:43:39.965
I mean that's a miracle in itself.
00:43:39.965 --> 00:43:41.801
So and through that, so many lives have been encouraged and
00:43:41.801 --> 00:43:45.004
Inspired, even though it could have destroyed us.
00:43:45.004 --> 00:43:48.040
It could have got into our minds where we'd never walked the
00:43:48.040 --> 00:43:50.342
Wire again.
00:43:50.342 --> 00:43:51.677
Well, that's what, you know, we have an enemy that seeks
00:43:51.677 --> 00:43:53.145
To devour and kill and destroy us.
00:43:53.145 --> 00:43:54.480
But the reality is, as long as we continue to keep god number
00:43:54.480 --> 00:43:57.316
One and use everything, realize we can use everything we go
00:43:57.316 --> 00:44:00.586
Through to bring glory to his name, to inspire, to encourage
00:44:00.586 --> 00:44:03.222
Others that hey, when you fall down, get back up on that wire.
00:44:03.222 --> 00:44:06.459
What i learned through that accident was that i thought i
00:44:06.459 --> 00:44:09.895
Was doing the right thing by getting back on the
00:44:09.895 --> 00:44:11.297
Wire immediately.
00:44:11.297 --> 00:44:12.732
But the reality was i needed time to heal.
00:44:12.732 --> 00:44:15.768
So when i got back on the wire, i actually buried all
00:44:15.768 --> 00:44:18.070
Those fears.
00:44:18.070 --> 00:44:19.405
I buried that seed that was on my mind, which made it harder,
00:44:19.405 --> 00:44:21.373
You know, with that seed of fear that's planted in my mind i
00:44:21.373 --> 00:44:24.043
Began to water, became it's like a weed in the garden, right?
00:44:24.043 --> 00:44:27.146
So eventually, if you leave that weed there and don't pluck it
00:44:27.146 --> 00:44:30.216
Out, it'll grow seeds and it'll take over your garden.
00:44:30.216 --> 00:44:33.652
So we have to continually grab those weeds and pull them out of
00:44:33.652 --> 00:44:38.090
Our minds.
00:44:38.090 --> 00:44:39.458
And so again, it's that practical practice of continuing
00:44:39.458 --> 00:44:42.294
To go, no, i'm gonna focus on god and god's word and what he
00:44:42.294 --> 00:44:45.331
Says about me, not what the world says about me.
00:44:45.331 --> 00:44:47.566
Kirk: i love that.
00:44:47.566 --> 00:44:48.901
I love that and i love that chapter in your book where
00:44:48.901 --> 00:44:50.503
You're talking about name your fear, identify the fear, because
00:44:50.503 --> 00:44:52.271
If you don't know what you're afraid of, which interestingly
00:44:52.271 --> 00:44:54.840
Is at the root of much of our anxiety, it's really a
00:44:54.840 --> 00:44:58.043
Fear issue.
00:44:58.043 --> 00:44:59.378
And if you can just like call it out in the middle of the street,
00:44:59.378 --> 00:45:01.747
Drag that thing out of the closet, and, like, do battle
00:45:01.747 --> 00:45:05.217
With that thing, and you face your fears, you realize that if
00:45:05.217 --> 00:45:08.854
You really are a christian, you have the god of the universe
00:45:08.854 --> 00:45:15.895
Fighting the battle for you and then you realize actually this
00:45:15.895 --> 00:45:18.998
Isn't a very formidable opponent for me and my god.
00:45:18.998 --> 00:45:22.434
Nik: there's no formidable opponent, that's right.
00:45:22.434 --> 00:45:24.637
Kirk: so i love how practical it is.
00:45:24.637 --> 00:45:26.705
Your last chapter is entitled, "a reliable process that you can
00:45:26.705 --> 00:45:30.109
Easily repeat."
00:45:30.109 --> 00:45:31.677
What do you mean by that?
00:45:31.677 --> 00:45:33.045
Like a mantra or, like, a habit, strategy?
00:45:33.045 --> 00:45:37.082
Nik: yeah, i think that it comes down to, you know, i think it's
00:45:37.082 --> 00:45:40.719
Important that we continually walk a straight walk.
00:45:40.719 --> 00:45:44.857
So it's easy again to get distracted, but i think it's
00:45:44.857 --> 00:45:48.460
About, you know, my mantra is never give up.
00:45:48.460 --> 00:45:51.230
Kirk: never give up.
00:45:51.230 --> 00:45:52.565
Nik: so i was passed that on from generation to generation,
00:45:52.565 --> 00:45:55.234
We've had seven family members that have actually lost their
00:45:55.234 --> 00:45:58.137
Lives performing, but we continue to go on.
00:45:58.137 --> 00:46:00.873
There's something inside of us, again, i believe that it was
00:46:00.873 --> 00:46:03.843
Placed in our hearts by our lord and savior.
00:46:03.843 --> 00:46:06.312
And again, we continue to use it to bring glory to his name.
00:46:06.312 --> 00:46:09.248
But i live by those words, never give up.
00:46:09.248 --> 00:46:10.983
No matter what challenges i face, i'm not gonna give up.
00:46:10.983 --> 00:46:13.152
And i think so many people see that failure is the end,
00:46:13.152 --> 00:46:18.490
That's it.
00:46:18.490 --> 00:46:19.825
I failed, that's it.
00:46:19.825 --> 00:46:21.193
Well, you know, john maxwell says that failure is a stepping
00:46:21.193 --> 00:46:22.995
Stone to success.
00:46:22.995 --> 00:46:24.597
As long as we don't give up when we fail, as long as we don't
00:46:24.597 --> 00:46:27.266
Give up when we allow those thoughts to take over, as long
00:46:27.266 --> 00:46:29.435
As we don't give in to those seeds that are planted in our
00:46:29.435 --> 00:46:31.604
Mind and we continue to pluck them out, i believe that we can
00:46:31.604 --> 00:46:34.106
Accomplish anything, that desire that god places on our hearts.
00:46:34.106 --> 00:46:37.543
Kirk: nik, as you continue your career as a wire-walker, what do
00:46:37.543 --> 00:46:41.881
You hope that people will take away from watching you do what
00:46:41.881 --> 00:46:45.184
You do?
00:46:45.184 --> 00:46:46.552
Nik: you know, i hope that people are inspired that with
00:46:46.552 --> 00:46:49.154
God all things are possible, that nothing is impossible.
00:46:49.154 --> 00:46:53.525
And that they're inspired to pursue their dreams.
00:46:53.525 --> 00:46:55.895
Because to most people, my dreams would be insanity, right?
00:46:55.895 --> 00:47:00.566
But to me, they're my dreams.
00:47:00.566 --> 00:47:02.935
And i think so many people are held back from pursuing their
00:47:02.935 --> 00:47:05.437
Dreams because, well, what if i don't?
00:47:05.437 --> 00:47:07.907
What if i can't make it through that marathon?
00:47:07.907 --> 00:47:09.675
What if i can't climb that mountain?
00:47:09.675 --> 00:47:11.110
Well, the reality is you'll never know until you start
00:47:11.110 --> 00:47:12.811
To try.
00:47:12.811 --> 00:47:14.146
So i encourage people to start to pursue those dreams, even
00:47:14.146 --> 00:47:15.781
Though they may seem unachievable.
00:47:15.781 --> 00:47:17.650
Take a step towards those dreams.
00:47:17.650 --> 00:47:19.485
You know, i worked in a restaurant till i was 22,
00:47:19.485 --> 00:47:21.687
Pursuing this dream of carrying on my family legacy, but we all
00:47:21.687 --> 00:47:24.323
Know the starving artist, and that was the life i was living.
00:47:24.323 --> 00:47:27.192
But even through that, i worked diligently as hard as i could in
00:47:27.192 --> 00:47:30.663
That restaurant every day because i knew that i was
00:47:30.663 --> 00:47:32.798
Representing my lord and savior in everything that i did.
00:47:32.798 --> 00:47:35.234
Even though i didn't enjoy it, i didn't wake up every morning and
00:47:35.234 --> 00:47:37.169
Go to work and say, i love this.
00:47:37.169 --> 00:47:38.537
I read a statistic the other day, 75% of americans don't like
00:47:38.537 --> 00:47:41.874
The job, they're miserable in their workplace.
00:47:41.874 --> 00:47:43.809
I encourage people to keep your job that you're miserable in,
00:47:43.809 --> 00:47:45.911
But pursue your dream job at the same time.
00:47:45.911 --> 00:47:47.980
Don't give up on this, use wisdom, i still got bills
00:47:47.980 --> 00:47:49.748
To pay.
00:47:49.748 --> 00:47:51.083
Don't just give it all up and go over here and not pay
00:47:51.083 --> 00:47:52.818
Your bills.
00:47:52.818 --> 00:47:54.153
Continue to do this, but continue to make steps towards
00:47:54.153 --> 00:47:55.487
Your dream as you continue to do what you
00:47:55.487 --> 00:47:56.822
Don't like, and god will honor that.
00:47:56.822 --> 00:47:58.457
And eventually, as long as you're representing him right
00:47:58.457 --> 00:48:00.926
Where you don't like to be, i didn't like sweeping the
00:48:00.926 --> 00:48:03.595
Restaurant, but i did it perfectly every time because i'm
00:48:03.595 --> 00:48:06.498
Representing him, and i believe that god sees that, he
00:48:06.498 --> 00:48:08.600
Acknowledges that, respects that, and then your dreams will
00:48:08.600 --> 00:48:10.903
Be fulfilled eventually through that process.
00:48:10.903 --> 00:48:12.705
Kirk: nik, this is so great.
00:48:12.705 --> 00:48:14.039
I'm so thankful for you, i'm so thankful you wrote this book so
00:48:14.039 --> 00:48:16.575
That we can read it.
00:48:16.575 --> 00:48:17.943
And, you know, i'm thinking like whether someone's a daredevil
00:48:17.943 --> 00:48:20.946
And they want to sail alone around the world or walk across
00:48:20.946 --> 00:48:24.316
An active volcano, or maybe they're just afraid that they're
00:48:24.316 --> 00:48:29.755
Gonna be alone for the rest of their life, or maybe there is a
00:48:29.755 --> 00:48:33.625
Crippling fear that they're not good enough to please the god
00:48:33.625 --> 00:48:40.766
That made them.
00:48:40.766 --> 00:48:43.235
If we face our fears, this is what i'm getting from what
00:48:43.235 --> 00:48:46.205
You're saying, if we face those fears, we can find that maybe
00:48:46.205 --> 00:48:50.876
Fear is our friend, and it's causing us to prepare for the
00:48:50.876 --> 00:48:54.113
Day when we meet god.
00:48:54.113 --> 00:48:55.614
Or maybe to develop the kind of character in ourselves that will
00:48:55.614 --> 00:48:58.884
Be attractive to that mate when we finally cross paths with
00:48:58.884 --> 00:49:02.821
Them, that they will say, wow, you're special.
00:49:02.821 --> 00:49:05.624
And so fear can be a really good thing, mixed with a healthy
00:49:05.624 --> 00:49:10.462
Respect and common sense, as you've said, and trusting
00:49:10.462 --> 00:49:13.198
In god.
00:49:13.198 --> 00:49:14.566
And then go in for it.
00:49:14.566 --> 00:49:16.435
Nik: that's right.
00:49:16.435 --> 00:49:17.770
Kirk: so thank you so much.
00:49:17.770 --> 00:49:19.138
Nik: thank you.
00:49:19.138 --> 00:49:20.472
Kirk: after the break, we'll review today's takeaways.
00:49:20.472 --> 00:49:26.998
Kirk: after the break, we'll review today's takeaways.
00:49:26.998 --> 00:49:31.817
Welcome back.
00:49:35.220 --> 00:49:36.555
It was great to tackle the topic of fear today with bethany
00:49:36.555 --> 00:49:39.324
Hamilton and nik wallenda.
00:49:39.324 --> 00:49:41.627
Whether you're a fellow adventure seeker or not, i
00:49:41.627 --> 00:49:44.396
Thought they had great insights for all of us who deal with
00:49:44.396 --> 00:49:47.633
Fear, and that is all of us.
00:49:47.633 --> 00:49:50.903
Let's talk takeaways.
00:49:50.903 --> 00:49:52.971
Don't face fear alone.
00:49:52.971 --> 00:49:54.907
Bethany hamilton reminded us of the importance of asking god and
00:49:54.907 --> 00:49:58.911
Others to help us overcome our fears.
00:49:58.911 --> 00:50:01.747
So the next time you feel yourself caught in endless what
00:50:01.747 --> 00:50:05.250
Ifs or stuck in fearful thought patterns, think, who can i call?
00:50:05.250 --> 00:50:10.956
How can you remind yourself to pause and simply pray, god, help
00:50:10.956 --> 00:50:15.360
Me right now.
00:50:15.360 --> 00:50:16.695
Make a plan that involves your people because you weren't meant
00:50:16.695 --> 00:50:20.432
To fight fear alone.
00:50:20.432 --> 00:50:22.968
What will you water?
00:50:22.968 --> 00:50:25.204
I found nik wallenda's challenge to work with our fears to be
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Very interesting, didn't you?
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There's a real tension between fear and respect on the high
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Wire that nik always acknowledges.
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He knows that he could face a threat like high winds, so he
00:50:37.649 --> 00:50:41.753
Trains for that.
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By respecting and acknowledging boundaries and the threats that
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Are around us, we can prepare and make wise choices.
00:50:46.959 --> 00:50:50.496
But there's also a choice about what we continue to think about,
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The seeds that we water in our minds.
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Those also significantly impact us.
00:50:57.703 --> 00:51:00.439
So let's be people who aren't caught up with our own stinking
00:51:00.439 --> 00:51:04.343
Thinking, but allow the truth of god's word to take root and
00:51:04.343 --> 00:51:09.281
Flourish in our hearts and minds and produce peace.
00:51:09.281 --> 00:51:14.353
What's the best thing that could happen?
00:51:14.353 --> 00:51:17.356
Do you ever wonder why it is that so many of us automatically
00:51:17.356 --> 00:51:20.325
Jump to worst case scenarios when dealing with our fears?
00:51:20.325 --> 00:51:24.263
Like we already mentioned, sometimes fear can be a good
00:51:24.263 --> 00:51:27.432
Thing and keep us safe, signaling danger ahead.
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But if fear becomes our default setting, then it can debilitate
00:51:31.970 --> 00:51:36.575
Us from taking any step forward because we're afraid we're
00:51:36.575 --> 00:51:40.379
Always gonna make the wrong move.
00:51:40.379 --> 00:51:42.014
And bethany challenged us to consider the best thing that
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Could result with what's in front of us right now.
00:51:46.351 --> 00:51:49.688
So even though we don't know exactly what will happen, good
00:51:49.688 --> 00:51:52.758
Or bad, taking time to think of the good or the redemptive
00:51:52.758 --> 00:51:57.396
Things that could happen helps us take the next best step.
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Name the fear.
00:52:02.768 --> 00:52:05.003
Sometimes we find ourselves so consumed with fear and anxiety,
00:52:05.003 --> 00:52:09.474
We don't think about the fact that we've never identified what
00:52:09.474 --> 00:52:13.512
We're afraid of.
00:52:13.512 --> 00:52:15.280
But if we pinpoint this fear source, then we're able to hold
00:52:15.280 --> 00:52:19.551
It up against the truth of god's word and see that the thing
00:52:19.551 --> 00:52:23.188
We're fearful of is not a formidable opponent for our
00:52:23.188 --> 00:52:28.126
Powerful god.
00:52:28.126 --> 00:52:29.795
Nik referenced several relatable big fears that all of us have
00:52:29.795 --> 00:52:34.099
Like the fear of failure.
00:52:34.099 --> 00:52:35.634
But think about it, what is failure in comparison to
00:52:35.634 --> 00:52:39.605
God's power?
00:52:39.605 --> 00:52:41.340
Let's get out of our own heads, name the fear, and deal with it
00:52:41.340 --> 00:52:45.410
By remembering god's character and his promises.
00:52:45.410 --> 00:52:49.948
That's all for this episode of "takeaways."
00:52:49.948 --> 00:52:52.251
Thanks for watching.
00:52:52.251 --> 00:52:53.619
And if you've enjoyed this show, don't forget to set your dvr so
00:52:53.619 --> 00:52:57.322
You never miss an episode.
00:52:57.322 --> 00:52:59.057
And of course, you can always catch up on past episodes by
00:52:59.057 --> 00:53:02.060
Searching for "takeaways" on tbn+ or by visiting the "kirk
00:53:02.060 --> 00:53:06.698
Cameron on tbn" youtube channel.
00:53:06.698 --> 00:53:09.568
We'll see you here next time for more great conversations.
00:53:09.568 --> 00:53:26.989

Bethany Hamilton & Nik Wallenda: Practicing Good Habits To Overcome Fear | Takeaways with Kirk Cameron

August 18, 2025 | 55:2

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