Unstoppable

W
ELCOME TO MY SECOND BOOK
. M
Y NAME IS
N
ICK
V
UJICIC
(
PRONOUNCED
Voo-yi-chich
). Even if you did not read my first book,
Life Without Limits
, you may have seen my videos on YouTube or attended one of my appearances around the world as an inspirational speaker and evangelist.

As you probably know or can see from my cover photograph, I was born without arms or legs. What you cannot see but might have sensed already is that my lack of limbs has not kept me from enjoying great adventures, a fulfilling and meaningful career, and loving relationships. In this book my goal is to share with you the unstoppable power of faith in action that has helped me create my own ridiculously good life, despite my disabilities.

Putting faith in action is about believing and achieving. It’s about having faith in yourself, your talents, your purpose, and, most of all, in God’s love and His divine plan for your life.

This book was inspired by the many people of all ages from around the world who’ve asked me for advice and guidance in dealing with specific challenges in their own lives. They know from my speeches that I have overcome adversities, including my youthful thoughts of suicide, concerns about being able to support myself and whether I’d ever find a woman to love me, my experiences with bullying, and other issues and insecurities that are not unique to me by any means.

The chapter topics address the most common questions and challenges people raise when they speak and write to me, including

I hope that sharing my stories and those of others who have persevered through their own trials and hardships—many of them far greater than mine—will help and inspire you to overcome whatever challenges you face. I don’t have all the answers, of course. But I have benefitted from wonderful advice from many wise people as well as the love and blessings of my heavenly Father.

I think you will find the guidance in these pages practical as well as inspiring. It’s important to keep in mind as you read that you are never alone. Help is available from friends, family members, teachers, counselors, and clergy. Don’t think you have to handle your burdens by yourself.

Remember, too, that there are probably many others who’ve faced and met the same challenges you encounter. This book also will share the stories of people I know and stories from others who have written to me to share their experiences. In some cases I’ve changed their names, but the stories are authentic and always inspiring for the courage, faith, and perseverance they exhibit.

As a boy trying to come to terms with my disabilities, I made the mistake of thinking no one else hurt like I did and that my problems were insurmountable. I thought that my lack of limbs was proof that God did not love me and that my life had no purpose. I also felt that I could not share my burdens—even with those who loved and cared about me.

I was wrong on all counts. I was not alone in my suffering. In fact, many people have dealt with challenges that surpass mine. And God not only loves me, He created me for purposes that I never could have envisioned as a child. He uses me in ways that continue to surprise and amaze me each and every day.

Know that as long as you are on this earth, there is a purpose and a plan for you too. God loves you, and there are many people around you—loved ones and professionals—willing to help you with your challenges. The burdens you carry may seem daunting, but as you will see in the pages that follow, the power of faith in action is truly incredible.

To begin to understand this, simply keep in mind that this man with no arms and no legs travels the world, reaching out to millions of people, while blessed with joy and love beyond measure. I am as imperfect as anyone you will ever meet. I have good days and bad. Challenges rise up and knock me flat on occasion. Yet I know that where I am weak, God is strong, and when we put faith into action, we are unstoppable.

ONE

N
EAR THE END OF MY 2011 SPEAKING TOUR IN
M
EXICO
,
AN OFFICIAL WITH
the US embassy in Mexico City called to inform me that my US work visa had been put on hold for “a national security investigation.”

I live in the United States on that visa because I am a native of Australia. I could not return to my California home without it. Since my staff had scheduled an upcoming series of speaking engagements in the United States, this was a serious problem.

I scrambled to the US embassy with Richie, my caregiver, early the next morning to try to figure out how my visa had anything to do with national security. When we arrived, we found the large reception area packed with people dealing with their own issues. We had to take a number, like in a bakery. The wait was so long I had a nice nap before we finally were called to meet with an official.