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Monday Motivating Moment

September 6, 2004

Your Weekly Attitude Booster

If I Can Walk On Fire

What holds you back from having, doing, and being? Most often it is the fear-fear of pain, fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, and fear of what others will think. Usually those fears that loom so large before you are but tiny spots when confronted.

Several years ago, my husband and I attended a Tony Robbins weekend program. The first evening was spent preparing us for an event that sounds incredible and incredulous-walking on a bed of hot coals. Setting aside for a moment the question of why would anyone deliberately do something that can have some painful results, a decision to take the walk begged for internal reasoning. The several hours prior to the 1:00 a.m. stroll across burning coals was spent overcoming the fear and convincing oneself that it could be done.

I will say that my fear did not subside completely, and even peaked a bit, when immediately prior to my first step, fresh coals were thrown onto the ten feet bed of red coals and embers. At that moment, I had to internally reaffirm my decision to actually make that walk.

I did not hesitate long because I knew that I was at an important crossroad, and that I might take a different path (one without pain or embarrassment) if I allowed fear to dominate my thoughts. This was not about what others might think if I did not do it; it was about how much I believed in my own ability to make a decision, and when faced with fears about that decision, to overcome and step forward.

I had a feeling of euphoria after walking rather quickly (no sense in being a darn fool about it) across the coals. I pushed through my fears and achieved my goals. I added it to my "been there, done that...no need to do it again" list. While talking about the experience, my husband and I agreed that if we can walk on fire, we can do ANYTHING that is of importance to us!

The lasting effect of that experience is that I have used it over and over again as I have faced situations that required decisions. Few situations were as frightening as carrying out the decision to walk barefoot over the bed of hot coals.

Here are some of my favorite phrases that help me through challenging times.

Just Do it!
So what!
What is the worst thing that could happen?
The only thing to fear is fear itself. (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
What you think of me is none of my business.
Face Your Fears and Do It Anyway.

Affirmation for the Week:

“Fear is not an obstacle, but fuel for facing challenges that hold me back.”

Have a decisive week!

Mary Rau-Foster,

Copyright 2004 by Mary Rau-Foster. All rights reserved.
However, if you find this information helpful, we grant you permission, and strongly encourage you, to print this page and put it on your bulletin board, or download an Adobe PDF file with a printable version. Thank you.

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