21 burned in walk over hot coals at Robbins event - Associated Press, Sat, July 21, 2012
And in other news, thirty-four people drowned at a lakeside Christian retreat when they attempted to walk on water...
Okay, people didn't really drown, but at least twenty-one people were reportedly treated for injuries as serious as second- and third-degree burns on the soles of their feet after walking across a ten-foot long bed of hot coals during a Tony Robbins motivational seminar in San Jose, California. While I'm compelled to wonder why that number didn't stop at one, there are enough documented instances of punch drinking, sweat lodging and prayer healing to remind me that follow-the-leadership is alive and well in the world, and that P. T. Barnum provided a better reference for human existence than Darwin did.
For anyone who hasn't watched television during some 24-hour period in the past thirty years, Tony Robbins is a self-help coach and motivational speaker who has
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This is the only way I want my little
piggies over a bed of hot coals.
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Hot Fact: Human skin will begin to burn at approximately 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The reported temperature range of coals for the Robbins firewalk was 1,200 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Math.
Firewalking is a stunt. It's not a miracle, and it's not supernatural. There are various scientific reasons why one wouldn't suffer burns or blisters while walking across a bed of hot coals. So put the cape away, Superman, 'cause it's not necessarily a high-risk activity. If done correctly, it can be done successfully and consistently. That's why it's an activity that a Mr. Robbins-type self-helper would employ in a motivational program as opposed to something really challenging like, oh, walking blindfolded across a four-lane highway. Or something even more difficult, like saying "No." What makes it a risk or a challenge to be triumphed is the belief it is just that. We are taught to fear fire, and overcoming that fear is a huge psychological boost. A boost that, say, someone who wants to guide you to the next price level would use because now you believe they can further help you.
I have no doubt the mind has the ability to control pain, but no state of mind can prevent the physical properties of an outside source (intense heat) from causing damage to your body (burned flesh). There are only two parts of one's mental state that is tapped for this or any other risky exercise that opposes conventional wisdom: believing that it can be done, and making the decision to do it. Nothing more, nothing less. And neither of those is immune to failure.
In Robbins' defense, his organization claims to have been providing this experience for more than thirty years and takes precautions to "ensure this event is always done in the safest way possible." Those precautions include having medical staff at the ready and providing warnings to participants "they might get burns or blisters." There was no mention if liability release waivers were signed by participants prior to attempting this stunt, so I'm going to go out on a burning limb and assume they were so potential litigation against the organization could also be handled in the safest way possible.
But even with assurances by organizations that these stunts, these tests of faith, such as walking on hot coals, can be safe by simply employing the proper state of mind, I have to question the state of mind of people thinking it's okay to provide a risk to others and then shrug off an injury when it occurs by saying, "Hey, we didn't make them do it." Yes, you did. You and your program got a notion into their heads - motivated them - to make them believe they could face whatever challenge you put before them by equating not doing it with failure. So when this activity - which is touted as a metaphor for succeeding in life - fails, guess what's reinforced?
I've seen video of Mr. Robbins clearly stating during his performance that walking on fire is not the goal of the seminar, that it's only presented as a metaphor to demonstrate overcoming life's challenges. But some people attending the seminar apparently aren't getting that message, as noted by the quotes below:
"The purpose of the event is to get your focus and your attention
away from that (potential for injury) and look into the power within
yourself and focus on just walking on the fire."
"I did it before, didn't get into the right state and got burned. I knew I
wasn't at my peak state. I didn't take it as serious."
"...after crossing the coals while chanting (my) mantra of 'Cool moss,'
(I) felt powerful."
Really, Mr. Cool moss-man? Let's see how powerful your "more money" mantra makes you during your next employee evaluation at work, okay? If Robbins' message didn't get across to these people that no focus, no state of mind, no mantra will protect them from getting burned, what other "life changing" messages were missed during the seminar? How about the message that by putting the right precautions in place (footwear), you minimize the perceived risks you face in life (hurting your feet) and develop the confidence to make decisions (putting on said footwear) that help you achieve success (crossing a fire pit)? Anybody get that one?
Mr. Robbins and his kind probably do a great service to those who need to understand they aren't alone in their fears. But these professional messengers should be able to communicate to their followers that they have the ability to step forward, confront the challenges in their lives, and become successful without the need to go circus-sideshow and have a person risk injury crossing a bed of hot coals barefoot to understand this.
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| Balloons = Happiness |
Did it scare the shit out of you when it finally popped? Are you still breathing? Then you aren't dead, you weenie, so go get another balloon and start blowing it up.
The point of the metaphor is this: As long as you're breathing, you still have the ability to affect change in your life and the opportunity to try again when things in your life pop.
And you get a balloon.
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