The Mindset That Turned Losing Both Legs Into a Paralympic Medal | Amy Purdy episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 22, 2026 · 1H 6M

The Mindset That Turned Losing Both Legs Into a Paralympic Medal | Amy Purdy

from The School of Greatness · host Lewis Howes, Amy Purdy

Amy Purdy walked into an operating room at 19 about to lose both legs, and instead of collapsing into fear, she gave herself three goals before the anesthesia took hold. You know that feeling when life pulls the ground out from under you and every identity you had disappears overnight? Amy has lived that more than once, and what she discovered is that the challenges you most want to escape are actually moving you closer to your purpose, not away from it. The key is learning to lean into problems rather than run, to find the smallest sliver of possibility and let it grow. In this conversation, you will walk away with practical tools for building a new identity after loss, understanding why your struggles are not obstacles but doorways, and discovering how staying present transforms the way you compete, create, and connect. Amy’s books: Bounce Forward: 21 Tools to Live a Life Beyond Limits On My Own Two Feet Amy on Instagram In this episode you will: Learn how to set a north star in the middle of crisis so fear does not get to make your decisions Discover why leaning into your problems instead of avoiding them is the only way to find real strength Understand how to step into a new identity after loss without pretending the old one did not matter Recognize the hidden reason so many high achievers crash after reaching their biggest goals Find out how shifting your focus from outcome to contribution changes everything about why you show up For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1918 For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960 Follow The Daily Motivation for essential highlights from The School of Greatness More SOG episodes we think you’ll love: Shaun White Mikaela Shiffrin Lindsey Vonn Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At 19, Amy Purdy lost both legs, a kidney, her spleen, and the hearing in her left ear overnight, and she made a choice in that operating room that changed everything. This conversation will show you how to stop seeing your hardest moments as detours and start using them as the path to a life you never could have planned.

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The Mindset That Turned Losing Both Legs Into a Paralympic Medal | Amy Purdy

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This episode is 1 hour and 6 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 22, 2026.

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Amy Purdy walked into an operating room at 19 about to lose both legs, and instead of collapsing into fear, she gave herself three goals before the anesthesia took hold. You know that feeling when life pulls the ground out from under you and every...

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