Walking on fire

Why in the world would anyone want to walk on fire? In fact many ask "What the hell are you thinking? That is crazy!". In fact, that is the response I got from almost everyone I told that I wanted to and was going to walk on fire.  Others, well let's just say they were skeptical at best. Not many believers out there these days I guess.

In fact, you might be saying the same or close to the same thing.  WTH are you thinking?

What I was thinking was what a rush, what an accomplishment, and what a game-changer.  I tell clients to challenge their beliefs, try new things to get better results.  Take action on the things that cause them to hold back.  Fears they have, ideas that prevent them from moving into greatness. My job as a business coach is to help people face and overcome those limiting beliefs that are holding them back.

So what does this have to do with walking on fire?  Here it is... I am so scared of fire it isn't funny.  As a young boy, I had a scary experience with fire.  I was trying to help my dad light the hot water heater in the basement. (gas fed). At 10 years old I had yet to understand how gas and flames work, I just knew that dad couldn't fit in the crawlspace to relight the heater and I wanted to help.  "I can do it Dad, I can fit, let me!" I exclaimed.  So he let me and told me to turn the lever to pilot light and then take this big long  (lit) match and place it on the pilot light. After a few failed attempts to light the pilot frustration set in and my 10-year-old brain said, "just turn up the gas, that should help" so I turned the lever up to on and proceeded to light the heater.

Well, you can imagine the result, gas flooded the small area under the heater and as soon as I moved the lit match close... WOOOOOOM!!!  Flames shot out and flashed back and burned all of my eyelashes, brows, and some of the hair on my head off, and flash burned my face and neck.  Thankfully my reaction was to shut my eyes and my sight was unaffected.  Why do I tell you this?  Because I was deathly afraid of fire after that.  I had a fascination but overwhelming fear of fire.

What are you afraid of?   What scares the shit out of you?  Bugs, Spiders, water, speaking in public? Whatever it is the ONLY way to overcome or get past that fear is to do it.  Bottom line, you have to face your fear and do it anyway!  It is mind over the issue and a focus on the goal. Knowing what you want is critical when you are setting out to accomplish something. 

You must catch that bug, kill that spider (not that I’m about killing anything), jump in the water, get up in front of the group and share that idea or speech. Take that chance, make something happen.  Do it NOW!!!  The first commandment of Coach Rick’s 12 Common Sense Commandments for Success. That leads to rule number two,  If not now… WHEN?

Coach Rick Kolster, CBC is the founder of the Peak Performance Group, a leadership, Sales and team development company.  He is also the author of Roll Up Your Sleeves and Get To Work as well as an expert on designing strategies for companies. He can be contacted at 817-748-7425 or info@MyPotentialPLus.com