"Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear."
— George Addair
In my early years of entrepreneurship, I developed a passion for personal development. I read books by Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Wayne Dyer, Stephen Covey, and many others. Eventually, reading wasn’t enough, and I wanted an experience. That’s how I found myself 800 miles from home, alone, at the San Jose Fairgrounds for a 2½-day Tony Robbins “Unleash the Power Within” seminar.
There were 1,500 of us packed into long days that stretched from early morning to late evening. No sightseeing. No distractions. Just pure Anthony Robbins energy.
Friday night was the firewalk, Tony’s legendary exercise in breaking through fear. When I saw the 12 to 15-foot bed of burning coals (glowing at 1,000–1,200º), I thought, What am I doing here?!
But we had a buddy system. When fear crept in, as Tony knew it would, our job was to remind each other why we came. We were told to fix our focus, not on the fire, but on the “cool moss” waiting at the end. That’s the lesson: When fear shows up, focus on the outcome, not the obstacle.
When my turn came, I walked. On fire. Barefoot. And I didn’t burn. The feeling at the end is hard to put into words, but I could hardly believe I had done that.
The firewalk gave me a new outlook. In the weeks that followed and to this day, when doubt tries to sneak in, I remind myself that I walked on fire. What's scarier than that, other than maybe a pit of snakes?
In a twist of fate, the first day after I returned home, my car wouldn’t start. I just laughed. I couldn’t help but think: Thank goodness that didn’t happen at midnight in the San Jose Fairgrounds parking lot. Divine timing or guardian angels? I believe in both.
That weekend didn’t just teach me how to walk on fire. It taught me how to walk through fear. It was a lesson in faith, courage, and the quiet power of moving forward, one bold step at a time. And, it reinforced my belief in guardian angels.
This is my second entry into the ActiveRain July Challenge, hosted by Patricia Feager and Lew Corcoran.
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