A Decade and a Half to Courage: My Story of Walking on Red Hot Coals for Tony Robbins

— After 15 years, the message finally resonated.

I did walk on scorching red coals for Tony Robbins.

Many years ago, I volunteered for a government initiative. The program coordinator was very adventurous with a fat budget. I had just heard of Tony Robbins when she told a few committed volunteers that she had booked a three-day seminar for us to attend.

Firewalk on Red Hot Coals

That day changed my life, but it took fifteen years for the rest of the transformation to happen.

There were 20,000 of us at the seminar.

On the first day, Tony Robbins spoke about himself, his life, and many others things. He said that our brain creates barriers we can overcome, and we have the power to change our state.

Then it was the Firewalk Experience. He got us so heightened and excited that I did not think about it when it was time to walk on the coal. All we chanted was about winning and victory.

At that moment, I felt fearless and on top of the world — that I could conquer anything, and trust me, there was no alcohol involved. I walked on the red-hot coal with no burns!

Taking Action after the firewalk

I went back home to normal life after the seminar. It was like a crash landing and was painful.

I tried to take action. I made one immediate change: buddy up with my friend who also went to the seminar, and we started taking early morning walks at 5 am every week. It was refreshing and a great way to see the world starting up without being involved.

But, I put away all of the information I received from the seminar and would now and again gaze wistfully at my Firewalk certificate. It was proof that I did it. I walked on hot coals! It was always at the back of my mind in those intervening years as I embarked on my slow writing journey.

Many self-help books tell you that individuals process and act on information in different ways. But how many people make a practical effort to change? How many of those books have you read? It took me years before Tony Robbins’ teaching came to life for me.

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life, and the procedure, the process is its own reward.

Amelia Earhart

I had to remove all toxins and everything else not working in my life. If you want to make changes, then be ready for some pain.

However, as you transform, positive changes will occur in your life.

The most significant change that I made was that I started to write again. I had taken a ten-year break to look after family but missed writing every day. I cannot tell you that it was an easy road.

Being in a state of anxiety and panic did not serve me or the people around me. But taking action allowed me to bring my dream to life.

When I decided to write crime fiction, I took a class to understand what I was getting into. I sat down and started writing about my character, who she was, and what she did without knowing whether I was right or wrong. I boldly posted my completed manuscript to literary agents and had masses of rejections from the publishing world.

But the rejections came not because I was not a talented author but the work was not ready. They had no time to teach me the craft of writing. It was business for them. I had to go on that journey by myself.

After Deadly Sacrifice was nominated for a prize for unpublished manuscripts, I finally understood that I could actually make a proper go of being an author.

I learnt a lot of lessons from the journey. Which is never to give up on a dream. And nurture your spirit. It could be as simple as planting herbs in pots or caring for indoor or outdoor plants.

It could be listening to music, which can change our state.

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”

Margaret Atwood

Lessons from the firewalk

Tony Robbins said that even changing our posture outwards and forcing a silly grin on our faces can bring a change. It tricks the brain into a different state that heightens our mood. He calls it Power Moves. A way that physiology can change our emotional state. You can make a move that makes you feel confident and condition your body to return to that emotion by repeating the action.

I remember doing the Partner Exercise and amused that the person who partnered with me was my opposite. He was an outdoor person and had done many adventurous things, including mountain climbing. I was a mind person and into creating universes. We enjoyed sharing each other’s worlds! I committed to physical activities, and he promised to read more books!

“Our thoughts can make our ideal reality possible. If you think you can do something, have confidence, and have creativity (developed by building up your idea muscle), the big ideas become smaller and smaller. Until there is no idea too big.”

James Altucher

But talk is only helpful with action. If you attend many courses, seminars, and webinars, go for meet-ups, and do not act, then you have yet to do your work.

When I listen to a podcast and take immediate action, I do much better than if I take notes and do nothing.

We all have different interests, and most of us are teeming with ideas, but how many have you brought to life? Have you got a community of mentors around you?

Teachers and Mentors

I started listening to Joanna Penn of the Creative Penn podcast in my writing business journeys. Although I have always been in tech, I started paying attention when she began discussing blockchain and AI.

I loved Tim Ferris’s podcast, bought most of his books, and consumed them to understand his writing.

He gave a challenge where he said you could reach out to famous people and see if they would respond. I contacted two well-known people and could not believe it when they responded! I began contributing to their community to nurture the relationship, which yielded plenty!

When I listen to a podcast and take immediate action, I do much better than if I take notes and do nothing.

We all have different interests, and most of us are teeming with ideas, but how many have you brought to life?

Ideas

In his book, “Choose Yourself” James Altucher, discusses how Richard Branson acquired Virgin Airlines.

“And yet Branson came up with the idea and that very day he called up Boeing to find out what it would cost to lease an aeroplane. He made a great deal with them that if it didn’t work out, he could return the aeroplane. If it did work out, he’d be a great customer for them.”

James Altucher is saying that your idea can be brought to life but you need to take action.

I know we’re not Richard Branson; it does not have to be an aeroplane. It could be as simple as writing a plan for a dream or an idea and chipping at it a little at a time.

Give yourself a chance

So, give yourself a chance. Express gratitude; it will begin your prosperity of mind, body and spirit.

You do not have to take giant steps because life is full of challenges. Just take baby steps. There is a lot of help out there for us. We’re in the Information and Technology age. Choose what is relevant to you and start learning. I have realised that the only thing that gives me peace is prayer and writing.

Danielle Steel just wrote her 200th book, and I wondered how she did it on 4 hours of sleep and nine children. It is not because she is Superman; she discovered her strength and ran with it. I don’t advise sleep deprivation to anyone. But we can work within our power. I wish you well in flying high!

Originally published at https://stellaonithewriter.com on August 21, 2023.