No Legs, No Limits – The Power of Belief That Transforms Dreams into Reality

Some stories don’t just inspire; they transform the way we see life. This is the journey of Hari Budha Magar MBE, a man who turned adversity into opportunity and redefined human potential.

Born in a remote village in western Nepal, amidst the uncertainty of a country in conflict, a young boy dared to dream. With no real resources for education, no clear path ahead, he set his sights on something bigger—becoming a soldier. Against all odds, out of 12,000 applicants, he earned his place (230) in the British Army, proving that determination could carve a way where none seemed to exist.

His duty took him to Afghanistan, a land far from home but bound by his commitment to world peace and security. Then, in an instant, everything changed.

An explosion—an eruption of life and death, dream and reality. Unconsciousness. Awakening to a truth too cruel to accept—one leg gone, the other barely holding on. The weight of failure, regret, and uncertainty crushed him more than the injuries ever could. His mission was unfinished, his purpose suddenly unclear, his dream shattered like broken mirror glass.

But the deepest wound was yet to come.

When his wife—his dearest love—walked into the hospital for the first time, her heart swelled with longing to hold him. But as she stepped closer, excitement turned to fear, love to disbelief. Her breath caught, her feet hesitated. He watched as joy and sorrow clashed in her eyes—relief that he was alive, grief for what was lost. In that silence, love and pain intertwined, and though no words were spoken, they both knew this journey would be theirs to fight together.

The battle that followed was no longer on the battlefield but within himself. The war against pain, PTSD, and the unbearable question—What now? He had two choices: to surrender to despair or to fight for a new purpose.

Then, one night, a vision struck him. He saw his home nestled in the shadows of the mighty Himalayas. He saw Everest—the mountain that had always been a symbol of greatness, pride, and impossible dreams. And suddenly, a question burned within him—What if?

What if he could stand on top of the world, not despite his loss, but because of it?

His journey began—not just to climb but to redefine possibility. With limited resources, no funding, and equipment that didn’t exist for someone like him, every step forward required invention, adaptation, and sheer will. And just when he had figured out how to train, a new obstacle emerged—an official ban preventing double amputees from climbing Everest.

But rules were not made for those who dream beyond limits.

He conquered one mountain after another, proving what the human spirit is capable of. Then, the day came—Everest awaited. The climb was brutal. Slow. Every step was a battle. But he pushed forward.

And in the moments when fear, doubt, and exhaustion tried to break him, it was love and purpose that kept him going.

He remembered his son, that final embrace before the journey began. The way those small arms wrapped tightly around him, as if trying to hold on forever. The whispered words, soft but powerful—"Good luck, Baba. I hope you will make it, don't fall, trip and slip." In that moment on the icy slopes, when every muscle screamed to stop, when the air was thin and unforgiving, those words became his oxygen. The warmth of his son's embrace, the innocence of his belief—it was enough. He pushed on.

Near the summit, oxygen ran low. The choice was stark—turn back or press on. And in that moment, with everything on the line, he made the decision that would define his legacy.

He kept going.

Step by step, breath by breath, with nothing but belief fueling him, he reached the summit. He stood where he had once only dreamed, writing new history as the first-ever double above-knee amputee to conquer the Mt. Everest.

As the wind howled around him, standing on the top of the world, he thought of the journey that had led him here—and the people who had shaped him. His father had once imagined him as a soldier, strong and proud. But now, as he shared the news, disbelief filled his father’s voice. And then—pride. The kind of pride that doesn’t come from following a path but from creating one.

As a fellow veteran, a fellow countryman, and someone who has walked similar paths, I share this story not just because it inspires but because it proves something incredible—the power of belief is within us all.

We rarely pay attention to it. We doubt it. We silence it. But when it ignites and rises to the surface, it transforms the impossible into reality.

This story of my dear friend Hari Budha Magar MBE, so dear to my heart, inspires me beyond words. Witnessing this extraordinary journey changed me. It proved that human potential is limitless when belief is ignited. It compelled me to become a life coach—not just to inspire but to empower others to uncover their own mountains and conquer them. It compels me to dig deeper, to understand not just knowledge, science, physiology, or psychology, but the real-life experiences that ignite the spark of success within every individual. It has shown me that the power to transform lives is within all of us, waiting to be activated. Some find it through life’s toughest trials; others through the right guidance. But one truth remains—it is available to everyone.

Believing in just one step now leads to the next, and before you know it, you’re on the journey of a lifetime. The path to success and a thriving life isn’t reserved for a select few—it’s open to all who dare to believe.

"We often ignore the power of belief—until the day it awakens. And when it does, we no longer doubt it; we become it."

Dare to believe. The world is waiting for your story.

– Prakash Gurung
Founder, Global Adaptive Coaching

(Story of Haribahadur Budha Magar MBE, shared with permission)

Visit website: www.haribudhamagar.com