Now You Are the Voice!

One of my favorite Bible verses is Exodus 3:14:

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'”

These two words—I AM—are the most powerful words in any language. They transcend every cultural, dialectal, and linguistic barrier in the world. Yet, for so many people, these words become chains rather than wings.

At some point, many of us start attaching our identity to fleeting thoughts, beliefs, emotions, actions, or behaviors. You’ve probably heard someone say:

• “Oh, I could never do that—I am too inexperienced.”
• “I am an addict.”
• “I am a sinner.”

And as one thinketh, so it is. But here’s the truth: you are not those things. Those labels are descriptors of actions or patterns—not the essence of who you are.

Think about it: you are not your thoughts. If you were, then who is the thinker?

Even the "me" you see in your mind or in the mirror isn’t the real you. That "me" is just a construct—a reflection of your most dominant thoughts, beliefs, and habits. And here’s the beauty: you can reconstruct it. You can change your identity in an instant.

Change doesn’t take years or months—it takes a decision.

For example, people often say, "It took me ten years to quit smoking." That’s not true. What took ten years was the accumulation of enough pain and self-awareness to finally make the decision. But the decision itself? That happens in an instant.

I know this because I did it. This year, I quit vaping—cold turkey. It didn’t take months of struggle. It took one moment of clarity where I decided with absolute certainty, “I AM not a smoker.”

This realization, this power of identity, is at the heart of what Tony Robbins teaches at Unleash the Power Within (UPW). It’s why 20,000+ people pack arenas year after year, seeking transformation.

Tony wasn’t the only person who taught me this truth, but he has been a major positive influence on my life. I’ve now attended UPW twice—two back-to-back years that have reshaped my life.

What does it take to transform your identity and live as the ‘I AM’ you were created to be? Let me share how this year’s UPW took me even deeper into that truth.

Understanding Tony Robbins: Who He Is—and Who He Is Not

To appreciate the transformative power of Unleash the Power Within (UPW), it’s essential to understand who Tony Robbins is—and who he is not.

Tony Robbins is not merely a motivational speaker. While his events can inspire and energize, motivation is not his core offering. If you’re expecting a light, feel-good pep talk, you’ll be in for a surprise. Tony’s methods dive deep into the human psyche and explore transformational states of mind, often pushing participants to uncomfortable yet necessary places for lasting change.

What makes Tony Robbins unique is his foundation in strategic intervention. His work integrates psychology, physiology, systems theory therapy, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and hypnotherapy. He learned directly from Cloe Madanes, a renowned psychologist who was mentored by Milton Erickson—the pioneer of NLP and hypnotherapy.

Yes, Tony’s methods can be controversial, and they may not resonate with everyone. That’s okay. Even scientifically backed methods aren’t universally appealing—much like a kale smoothie might be good for you, but that doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy it.

I feel this distinction is important because many people who leave UPW dissatisfied often entered with mismatched expectations. For example, this year, I participated in my first firewalk: walking barefoot across 2,200-degree, red-hot coals at 1:30 a.m. This wasn’t about hype or motivation—it required entering a peak state of mind, a state rooted in science, not just a rousing speech.

Physiology: The Key to Transformation

Tony’s signature approach revolves around changing your physiology. What does that mean? Be prepared to move—to jump, dance, scream, and attach physical movement to your emotions. It might sound strange, but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.

Your mental state is closely tied to your physical state. Consider the difference between your posture, voice, and energy when you’re feeling confident versus when you’re feeling defeated. The fastest way to shift your state of mind is through motion.

This connection is backed by research. For example, in the bestselling book The Body Keeps the Score, researchers show how our muscles store suppressed emotions, particularly those rooted in trauma or limiting beliefs. When we push emotions we dislike into the recesses of our minds, they don’t disappear—they get stored in our physical bodies.

At UPW, Tony uses repetitive movements—dancing, singing, shouting, and other exercises—to release these pent-up emotions. This intense physical engagement, combined with the energy of thousands of people doing the same, creates a powerful sense of unity and accelerates the process.

Releasing and Rebuilding

The process isn’t always comfortable. It may not be for everyone. But for those ready to embrace it, it’s life-changing. By releasing suppressed emotions and beliefs, you create space for new, empowering ones.

Tony’s methods don’t just stop at emotional release. He integrates these empowering beliefs into your mind, body, and spirit through physiology. This isn’t just intellectual understanding—it’s a visceral experience. You don’t just think about the power of “I AM”—you feel it in your core.

This integration helps you take control of your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and patterns. You gain the authority to design and create the life you want.

My Second UPW Experience

This year’s Unleash the Power Within (UPW) was even more profound than my first. The techniques that had a significant impact on me the first time resonated even deeper this year. Having already experienced the initial breakthroughs, I was able to dive deeper, push harder, and emerge stronger.

Last year, UPW was held locally at the Omni Hotel in Dallas. I signed up at the last minute, unaware of how critical full immersion is to the experience. Trying to juggle work during the event meant I missed key moments, including the firewalk. Yet, even with those limitations, I walked away with powerful insights and tools that transformed my life.

The real difference between this year’s event and last year’s wasn’t the material or agenda—it was who I had become.

Last year, I showed up as a new business owner, eager—desperate, even—to prove myself to the world. When Tony and the other speakers talked about getting more out of life, I interpreted it as more business, more clients, more money. One of Tony’s pillars of peak performance is taking massive action, and at that time, I understood it as brute force—pushing through any obstacle with relentless external effort.

That mindset wasn’t wrong; it was exactly what I needed then. It served me well. But I didn’t stop my journey of growth after UPW. Over the past year, I’ve worked with a counselor and coach to deepen my self-awareness and realign my priorities.

By the time I signed up for this year’s UPW—months in advance—I thought it would be an opportunity to prepare for an even bigger 2025, business-wise. But as it turned out, God had other plans.

Leading up to the event, I had already decided to scale down my business and take on a new job. In many ways, it felt like starting over—an experience both humbling and, at times, resistant to my own ego.

So when Tony spoke this year about wanting “more” out of life, my understanding shifted. I realized we have the power to decide what “more” looks like for us. Instead of chasing more money, I now focus on more joy, more gratitude, more love for God and my family, more connection with myself and my purpose.

When Tony spoke about taking massive action, I saw it in a new light. Massive action doesn’t always mean brute force—it can mean learning to rest, setting boundaries, saying no, and practicing acts of self-love and compassion.

This year, I also found a new lens: patience.

The firewalk, where I walked barefoot across burning 2,200-degree coals without injury, was a powerful metaphor for the untapped potential lying dormant within me. It reminded me that I can conquer anything, but I don’t need to rush or force the process. Massive action can also mean massive trust—trusting God to guide me on my path, providing what I need, when I need it.

That firewalk wasn’t just about my strength—it was a reminder of God’s power. It brought to mind the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, saved from a fiery furnace. The same God who protected them protected me.

It was also a reminder of my own resilience. I am the person who lays and stands on nails for therapeutic reminders of my strength. I am capable of extraordinary things because of the extraordinary power within me.

And here’s the truth: that same power is inside you, too.

If there’s one thing I admire most about Tony Robbins, it’s his humility. Despite his supreme confidence—which can be uncomfortable if you’re not confident yourself—Tony never claims to be a guru. He consistently reminds his audience that he’s not giving us anything; he’s helping us uncover and unleash what’s already inside us.

The power to transform is within us all. It’s there for anyone willing to decide to use it.

What Untapped Potential Lies Within You?

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus says, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

What are your “impossible” dreams—the ones you could achieve if you chose to unleash the deep spiritual power embedded within your being?

What would your life look like if you decided to live in a beautiful state of love, joy, and gratitude every single day, no matter your external circumstances?

How different would your day-to-day life feel if you were the decision-maker, the voice of authority over your own mind and life?

These are the kinds of questions you’ll answer if you attend Unleash the Power Within or a similar event.

For me, my impossible dreams are encoded in my life’s purpose. I’ll share one that still scares me a little:

One day, I will sell out AT&T Stadium in Arlington for my own multi-day event—similar to UPW.

It might take me 20 or 30 years, but I know I have everything within me to achieve it. This dream aligns with God’s purpose for my life, and I can already see it with absolute clarity and certainty.

Take a moment today to write down one of your own impossible dreams. What’s stopping you from believing it’s possible?

A Beautiful State

One of the most important lessons I missed last year was the day-one focus on creating a “beautiful state” of mind.

For many of us, our minds can feel like hostile territory. Intrusive thoughts pull us into anger, guilt, shame about the past, or anxiety and powerlessness about the future. To cope, we often distract ourselves with destructive habits.

Drugs, alcohol, and sex are some of the more socially judged distractions, but others are just as damaging: food, social media, work, shopping, or gambling. These habits provide fleeting relief but often harm our relationships, hurt those we love, and prevent us from fulfilling our God-given purpose.

The truth is, we can control our thoughts, emotions, and state of mind. At UPW, Tony walks you through exercises that prove this and helps you design your own “beautiful state”—a mental and emotional home you no longer feel the need to escape from.

The quality of your life is directly tied to the quality of your emotional state. For me, life is too short to suffer. I’ve committed to approaching each day as a gift, operating from a place of love, gratitude, peace, and joy.

You, too, can make this choice today. Life doesn’t happen to you—it happens for you. No matter what happens, you can choose to live in a beautiful state.

Now YOU Are the Voice

One of the most transformative parts of the event comes on day three when Tony guides the audience through a powerful exercise to identify and destroy limiting beliefs—and replace them with empowering ones.

This year, my limiting beliefs were:

• I have to be perfect to deserve other people’s love and acceptance.
• There is something deeply wrong with me, and I can’t fix it. I don’t deserve love and appreciation.
• The desire to make money is deeply evil, which is why I’m not good with money.

While I know intellectually that these beliefs are false, they still lingered. They’re the same beliefs I confronted last year, but this time they had far less power over me. Growth isn’t always about eliminating limiting beliefs completely—it’s about weakening their hold, layer by layer.

This year, I replaced those beliefs with empowering ones:

• Screw perfect—I am worthy, powerful, and outstanding.
• I am not broken—I am whole and complete.
• I am great with money, and I give generously from my abundance.

Through Tony’s guidance, I used my body, mind, and spirit to internalize these new truths. The process isn’t just intellectual—it’s visceral.

Conclusion

By now, it’s probably clear I’m a huge fan of Tony Robbins and UPW. In fact, I’m now enrolled in the Robbins Madanes Training program, where I’m learning to apply the same strategic intervention techniques from Tony and Cloe Madanes to help others.

That said, I don’t agree with everything Tony says. For instance, I hold a much higher regard for hope than he does, and I filter all his teachings through my Christian faith. I’m also less focused on material success than some attendees.

Still, if this type of event resonates with you, it’s worth exploring. For those uncertain, I recommend watching Tony’s Netflix documentary, I Am Not Your Guru. While it focuses on his Date with Destiny event, which is more intense than UPW, it offers a good preview of his style and approach.

I barely got to touch on some really important subjects because of the length, so I will be unpacking and doing deeper dives into some of the lessons over the next few weeks to explore these ideas in more detail.

Ultimately, no matter what side of the fence you’re on regarding Tony Robbins, one truth remains: you have full control over your life. The question is: are you ready to let go of the toxic beliefs holding you back and take the reins?

Are you ready to take that first step today?

Now, YOU are the voice.

https://youtu.be/ceYtAEpSoGk