Cara E. Yar Khan: The beautiful balance between courage and fear | TED

Summary

The speaker shares her journey of courage and resilience in the face of her rare genetic condition, HIBM, which led to using a wheelchair. Despite societal pressures to limit her dreams, she pursued her career with the United Nations, worked in challenging environments like Angola, and even became a disability focal point in Haiti. Her courage was tested further when she overcame her fear of heights to embark on a daring 12-day expedition through the Grand Canyon, showcasing the balance between fear and bravery that defines an extraordinary life.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Courage is not an automatic response but a result of reflection and effort to balance fear and bravery.
• 🚀 The speaker's childhood dream was to work for the United Nations in challenging countries, which they achieved through courage.
• 🦽 A genetic condition called HIBM led to the speaker's use of a wheelchair, but they refused to let it limit their ambitions.
• 💔 Initial reactions to the speaker's diagnosis were discouraging, with advice to limit their dreams and ambitions.
• 💍 The speaker chose to get married and not have children, continuing to pursue their international career with the UN.
• 🌍 Despite the physical challenges, the speaker worked in Angola and Haiti, showing resilience and dedication.
• 🏞️ The Grand Canyon adventure symbolizes the speaker's determination to overcome physical limitations and fear of heights.
• 🐎 Learning to ride a horse was a creative solution to the inaccessibility of the Grand Canyon, demonstrating adaptability.
• 🛑 Facing a fall and injury during the expedition, the speaker chose to continue, showcasing immense courage.
• 🏞️ The journey down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon was a test of courage and a reminder of the speaker's adventurous spirit.
• 🌈 The speaker's experiences highlight the importance of living life boldly, balancing fear with courage to achieve extraordinary experiences.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood dream?

The speaker dreamed of working for the United Nations in some of the most difficult countries in the world.

What is hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM)?

HIBM is a rare, progressive muscle wasting disease that affects all of the speaker's muscles from head to toe, with no current cure or proven treatment.

How did the speaker's diagnosis of HIBM affect her life and career?

Despite the diagnosis, the speaker continued her career with the United Nations, working in Angola and later as a disability focal point for UNICEF in Haiti.

Why was the speaker initially hesitant to disclose her HIBM diagnosis to her employer?

The speaker feared that her employer would question her capacity to manage and she might lose her job.

What was the speaker's reaction to people advising her to limit her ambitions and dreams after her diagnosis?

The speaker found it preposterous and unacceptable to have others limit her dreams and ambitions, so she ignored their advice.

What was the speaker's experience like when she first attempted to go down the Grand Canyon?

The speaker experienced shock and terror due to an unexpected fear of heights, but she mustered courage to continue the expedition.

What challenges did the speaker face during the Grand Canyon expedition?

The speaker faced physical challenges such as a fall from a horse resulting in an injury, and emotional challenges like fear and stress.

How did the speaker overcome her fear during the Grand Canyon expedition?

The speaker overcame her fear by breathing deeply, focusing on her team's voices, and not giving up despite the challenges.

What was the outcome of the speaker's Grand Canyon expedition?

The expedition was successful, and the speaker completed a 12-day journey that included four days on horseback and eight days rafting the Colorado River.

What lesson does the speaker want to convey about the balance between fear and courage?

The speaker wants to remind us that life is about finding the balance between fear and courage, and understanding what is and isn't a good idea to pursue our dreams.

What is the speaker's future aspiration related to the Grand Canyon?

The speaker aspires to raft the entire 277 miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in the future.