Fear into Power: The Firewalk Experience ??

Day - ?? Fearless Friday?

"Fear is the enemy of progress. Dare to take that first step, and the path will reveal itself." - Unknown

Having spent several decades studying the mindsets that drive success and achievement, one thing I have learned is that fear is one of the single biggest obstacles to success.

Fear is a natural human emotion that can either paralyze or empower us. The fear of the unknown, failure, rejection, or even success can hold us back from achieving our full potential. However, what if I told you that fear could be transformed into a source of power? That's exactly what I experienced back in 1987 during a Tony Robbins' firewalk experience – where I learned to use fear to fuel personal transformation and ignite a revolution within my mind.

?? The firewalk is a symbolic act of stepping barefoot on hot coals, which is often associated with fear and pain. However, Robbins used this experience to demonstrate the power of the mind and its ability to overcome limiting beliefs. By walking across the hot coals, you learn to conquer your fears and tap into a newfound source of strength and confidence. (Note: Don't try this at home!)

I remember yelling "yes, yes, yes," making a fist pump in the air with each “yes” as we marched out of the hotel conference room and went out to the parking lot where the fires we would soon be walking on welcomed us. As we approached the fires, the glowing embers and dancing flames were enough to cause me pause as I questioned what the h@#$ was I really doing? Doubt crept in and turning to a friend of mine, I quickly realized that I wasn’t the only one wondering if we could actually walk on those fiery coals without getting burned? The energy of others was almost as intense as the heat from the crackling wood. I remember thinking that the heat actually felt nice on that cool November evening.

?? As we closed our eyes, we were guided through a visualization imagining ourselves successfully walking the flaming path ahead of us and how we’d celebrate by making a fist in the air and practicing shouting with joy and excitement to celebrate this feat.

?? We were reminded that this was a powerful metaphor for life. Tony Robbins encouraged us to think of our past successes, embracing how powerful we felt at those times, and how much"untapped" power we really have. He pointed out how most of our fears have no basis in reality as we create them in our mind and that they don’t exist outside of our beliefs. He provided additional guidance about the power of our "state" - how to walk on the coals, how our physiology should be (e.g. posture, breathing, etc.) and even how we should look up towards the night sky rather than looking down at our feet as we walked (not ran) down the scorching path. He had us focus on a cool place and guided us to chant “cool-moss, cool-moss, cool-moss” as we walked the hot path before we would celebrate.

?? It wasn’t long before I was doing just as he had guided us to… I stepped forward, confronted the unknown and emerged transformed and emboldened, changed by the blazing path I had conquered. While I don’t recall the exact details since perhaps I was in a trance like state as I embraced a powerful physiology, there were some concepts about how to embrace fear that I walked away with on my unscorched feet.

? Recognize and acknowledge the fear

The first step is to become aware of the fear and acknowledge its existence. Identify what specifically you are afraid of and understand how it impacts your life. Many of our fears and beliefs often limit us and even though they are rooted in our past experiences, we typically carry them with us into the present. By recognizing these beliefs, we can begin to challenge and change them.

?? Challenge and reframe your beliefs

Examine the underlying beliefs and assumptions that contribute to your fear. Question the validity of these beliefs and seek evidence to counter them. Reframe your perspective by focusing on positive and empowering beliefs. Remember, our beliefs shape our reality, and by changing our beliefs, we can transform our experience of fear.

?? Take massive action

Robbins emphasizes the importance of taking immediate and decisive action to break the pattern of fear. By taking action, you create momentum and build confidence. Start with small steps and gradually increase your exposure to the fear-inducing situation. Each step forward diminishes the power of fear and strengthens your resolve.

???? Change your physiology, focus and language

Your body and mindset are interconnected. Emotion is created through motion so the way we move will change how we feel. Robbins suggests changing your physiology by altering your body language, breathing deeply, and adopting a confident posture. Additionally, shift your focus away from the fear and redirect it towards positive outcomes and solutions. Remember that where your focus goes, energy flows.?Whatever you focus on expands. Lastly, our language especially our internal dialogue creates our reality.?The quality of our communication to ourselves determines the meaning we give to situations – are we powerless or powerful??Cowardly or courageous??By changing your physical state and directing your attention and language, you can shift your mindset and tap into your inner strength.

?? Repetition and conditioning

Overcoming fear is a process that requires repetition and conditioning. Consistently face your fear and take action in spite of it. Through repetition, you desensitize yourself to the fear, build new empowering beliefs, and rewire your brain for courage. Success rarely comes overnight, and it's essential to stay committed to your goals and keep pushing through obstacles. By persisting through challenges and setbacks, we build resilience and develop a fearless mindset.

By following these steps, we can transform our fears into sources of power and achieve our full potential. The firewalk experience is just one example of how you can tap into your inner strength and overcome your limiting beliefs.

???Reflection Questions?

• What limiting beliefs do you hold about yourself and your abilities? Challenge them and reframe them into empowering beliefs.
• What is one small step you can take today to move towards your goals? Take that step and build momentum.
• How do you manage your state? Are you using a powerful physiology? What is your focus? Is your self-talk empowering or disempowering? Be aware of your emotion since you can manage it.
• How can you stay committed to your goals and persist through challenges? Find strategies that work for you, seek support when needed, and maintain a strong sense of purpose.

So, the next time you feel fear creeping in, remember to embrace it as a natural part of the process and use it as motivation to take action. Take a deep breath, change your state, your physiology, your focus and language and use it as a catalyst for growth. Remember your successes and keep moving forward - one step at a time. With this process, you have a powerful tool to help you play with your fears and achieve your goals.?

Never forget that you have the power to transform your fears into sources of power - all it takes is a willingness to take action and persist. Embrace the firewalk of life, step onto the coals, and emerge stronger on the other side. ???

Let's step into our fears together and let them go up in smoke!?

To your fearless success!

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If you liked this newsletter, please like, share and comment to help others find it as well!?

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P.S. I’d invite you to read the classic book by Tony Robbins Unlimited Power and check out this video of him talking about the power of changing our state, physiology, our thoughts and focus as he explains How to Break Your Negative Thinking. ?(And be sure to try a power pose!)

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Look forward to helping you build the confidence and skills to excel as a leader.?

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#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #confidence #fear #mindset #professionaldevelopment #executivecoaching #confidencecoach #confidenceinleadership?#limitingbeliefs #emotionalintelligence