At 1am, I walked on fire.
Along with my girl, Sarah Jenks, I spent last week in LA for a Tony Robbins event. When Mastin Kipp from The Daily Love contacted me, inviting me to join in, I was a skeptical Yes.
I’ve done a lot of personal growth work. I started reading self-help books at age 12, was a peer counselor at age 16, and have spent enough money on coaching in my life to buy a small house in northern California. I’m really, really into this stuff.
So the idea of coming to a seminar with 6000 people was a little… Let’s just say that I was convinced that it would be all the same basic stuff I’ve seen and heard before. Epic fail at adopting Beginner’s Mind. Anyways, I was wrong.
Tony is a total machine — the man can go 12 hours without peeing or taking even a sip of water. That alone is miraculous to see. But beyond that, there was one big lesson that he really drove home — a lesson that prepared us for a 1am fire walk: the importance of state.
This blurry image is a picture of a row of burning coals, registering at a temperature of around 2200˚. For some context, if you’ve ever burned yourself on your oven, the temperature was likely around 450˚. Yeah. You could seriously mess yourself up by walking on fire.
Here’s a picture of me and Sarah, PSYCHED on the other side of the fire. We did it! No burns; no pain.
So how did we prepare?
Yes, we had a strategy — we needed to know how to do this to be effective. But before that, we needed to be in the right state.
We tend to think that we just need the right strategy to achieve success, but unless you’re in the right state, your strategy won’t succeed. {tweet it}
In other words, if I had walked onto that fire timidly, full of certainty I’d burn my feet off, slumped over, overwhelmed with nervous energy and fantasies of tripping into the fire… no matter how much I knew what strategies to employ (look up, not down; walk at a normal, direct pace), I would fail. I needed to be in the right physical, mental and emotional state.
Think of something that you want to create. What is it? Think of it now…
To create what you want, what state do you need to be in?
PHYSICAL: What change can you make to your body right now to be in the right physical state for creating what you want? For example, if you’re wanting to empty your inbox, will you be more effective while slumped on the couch or standing up at a counter with good posture? Our physical state sends cues to our brains, letting our mind know how sharp to be. Consider this.
MENTAL: What do you need to focus on right now to be in the right mental state for creating what you want? If you’re wanting to sit down and write a blog post, what will it be more helpful: obsessing over getting your grammar perfect, or focusing on the result you’re determined to give your readers? What we focus on is a choice, and what we focus on magnifies.
EMOTIONAL: How can you flip the switch on your emotional state right now to be in the right emotional state for creating what you want? For example, when having a sales conversation with a prospective client, will it be more empowering for you to be spiraling into worry, certain that they’re not going to hire you, or… excited to be with them, sure that if you bring your full presence, you’ll both discover whether this is a right fit? At a certain point, spiraling into despair is absolutely a choice.
While you get yourself into the state to create, imagine yourself on the other side, having achieved what you set out to accomplish.
Won’t it be worth it to take that first step into the fire?
You really took that Phoenix stuff seriously!
Looks like a blast…
YES!!! I mega LOVE this, it is sooo true–state determines so much! This comes at a perfect time for me today, trying to plug away at my big projects, but slumped over and with the incessant chatter in my noggin! Time to change that toute de suite, STAT!!! Thank you so much and you are an amazing BAD ASS, fire walker!!!
How did it go, Eyenie?
Did you change state?
Hi Nisha,
I think you’re great! And although we don’t know each other (yet), we’re already totally aligned and loving friends. 🙂 I really appreciated your post. One thing that is altering my state to create right now is my desk chair! I am a yogini and meditator, so I prefer to sit in an Indian style position when working… but my chair is not very conducive and is causing the base of my body to ache. Any suggestions on great chairs for happy, healthy body states? Warmly, Myka
Myka, this is so sweet. Thank you!
Have you considered a standing desk?
I love standing while working.
xo
Nisha
Thanks Nisha! I appreciate your rec for a standing desk.
Warmly,
Myka
Nisha, it is such an honor to walk on fire with you. Last week, and in life.
I’m gearing up to release my most brilliant program yet, and am finding everyday as scary as the anticipation of burning my tootsies off, but I’m dancing every morning, pounding my chest and charging through, knowing the women on the other side are going to LOVE IT! Love you tons. xox
Love you, Sarah 🙂
Nisha (and Sarah!) this is awesome! I’m SO looking forward to getting to a Tony Robbins event in the near future. Thank you for the reminder of ‘state’ again. I’ve heard it in his audios and read it in his books, but now I’m going to make a conscious note of this every time I go to write, make a video or coach someone!
xoxo, Ashlee
Awesome, Ashlee!
I’ve been thinking of state before I do *anything*…
eat, email, get out of bed…you name it!
Oooh timing!! Something that hasn’t bothered me in a really long time has struck me once again: my inflammation and fatigue has been getting me down this week – just in time for spring, typically my busiest time of year! I have been wallowing a bit but your blog hit my inbox at the exact right time. Gonna be taking some time this weekend to flip my physical, mental, and emotional switches. I got this!
You’ve got this, Jocelyn!
Did it work?
Hugs,
Nisha
Love Tony and you so nailed the mindset he empowered me to continually recreate for myself and help my clients to adopt. It is ALL mindset if you feel Fat n Frumpy – it shows up physically – you walk like your pregnant dress like your pregnant and then wonder why someone just asked when you due, emotionally – you know the I’m fat voice and the mental game is definitely Tony ‘s power punch cross jab. I love my morning hour of power!!! Nisha so psyched you n Sarah rocked out with The Big T. I love his coaching program a little of everything and a lot of humor!!! Big hugs lady n see you soon… Somewhere on this big beautiful whirling marble!
Jen, I love the sound of a “morning hour of power”.
Tell us more about that!
Nisha,
I so loved this post. and as others have said, I too wish to walk across the coals one day. Congrats! You totally nailed the right state piece. There is a ton I wish to create these days – from filling a group program to be debt free by my birthday. Fully intend to do both. I 1000% agree that I need to operate in the optimal state which translates to good sleep, food, movement, time outside, smart, consistent action and regular doses of inspiration. So thanks for the last piece!
Thank you so much for your comment, Beth.
I highly recommend fire walking…life changing!
Much love,
Nisha
I had no idea that you were a fellow “Firewalker”… I love you even more now! Lol! I’ve been following Tony for years and attended UPW San Jose in 2012 and just attended Date with Destiny this past December in Palm Desert… truly AMAZING!! I’m currently enrolled at IIN and trying to figure out what direction I’m going take in my career. You are a huge inspiration to me… thanks for all you do!
Cool moss, cool moss…
I just graduated from IIN last week, and am experiencing a bit of a “deer in headlights” moment – it’s time to really start doing this, and I feel paralyzed! Maybe because I have too many fabulous ideas, and I know I just need to start with the clients. This post is very inspiring (you are a mentor to me, after all) and helped me to calm down, and know that I just need to start. One day at a time. Do something every day to keep moving in the right direction. Thank you, lovely lady. And oh, I’m a bit jealous about your Tony Robbins experience…on my wish list! He was here in Chicago just this past weekend, but I couldn’t afford to attend. One day!
I love this, Adele – you’ve got it!
When I’m working on something and feel
overwhelmed, I always remind myself that
“There’s nothing else to do right now”,
because we can only do one thing at a time 🙂
And yes, Tony was awesome. A force of nature!
With Love,
Nisha
Nisha,
I love the energy in you so much! You are like my morning coffee… I am awakened with you!
Thank you!
Angel
What a sweet comment, Angel! Thank you!