What compels people to attempt to tackle strenuous physical challenges like scaling the seven summits around the globe? An exhilarating feeling of accomplishment? A glimpse at some of the world’s most coveted views? For Erik Weihenmayer, physical challenges presented themselves on their own, and climbing these mountains has proved that he is beyond capable of overcoming his disability.

CNN recently covered Erik Weihenmayer’s story, a man who, at age four, was diagnosed with juvenile retinoschisis – a very rare condition that affects the retina of the eye, mainly in males. The tissue of the retina is specialized and light sensitive, and although he could see as a child, he would slowly begin to lose his sight. At this very young age, Weihenmayer lived each day of his life forward in the brutal reality that he would one day be blind. By the time he was a freshman in high school, this nightmare became true. Surprisingly, the detriment to his physical capabilities actually allowed Weihenmayer more possibilities in the real world. Before sight was lost, he was forced to restrain from any physical activity that could possibly damage his retinas, isolating him from his friends throughout grade school.

Without the ability to see, Erik was able to rock climb and wrestle without the fear of causing further problems in his eyes. As he moved to Phoenix to be a teacher after college, he continued to rock climb on the weekends, and eventually he and some friends worked their way up to climbing the highest peak in North America, Denali. But this accomplishment was not enough. The exhilaration from overcoming his disability and a physical challenge that would be difficult even for someone with sight prompted Erik to make a much larger goal: summiting the highest peak on each continent of the world.

As Weihenmayer set out to hike Mount Everest, many people doubted that he was capable of facing the life-threatening battles on the peak, including Himalayan experts. The strenuous physical exertion required to reach the summit is vast, and typical weather challenges reminded many that even once you get to the top, you have to make it back down alive. Regardless of the skepticism, Weihenmayer proved his critics wrong, becoming the first blind man to summit Mount Everest in 2001. He continued to impress the public, climbing all seven mountains in 2008, and then training for six years to kayak through the Grand Canyon. Though these accomplishments are astonishing with his disability, in his CNN interview, Erik says, “I’m not just doing these things so that I can prove that blind people can do this or that. That’s kind of shallow. You do it because that’s living fully.” He now uses his experiences and personal stories to motivate others to face the challenges they are presented head-on through his speeches. The organization “No Barriers,” which he cofounded in 2005, also works to help people overcome personal obstacles. Erik Weihenmayer is an inspiration to remind us all that our capabilities can always exceed expectations with the right mindset.