cake walks + fire walks: beginner’s mind

 
 

I walked on hot coals once - barefoot. Across a bed of white hot embers about twenty feet long. When you walk off the fiery path you step into a puddle of water and you can hear your feet sizzle and see steam rise. And lo', thanks to mind over matter, I didn't even blister. Hot damn.

I raced home at midnight, under a full moon, with a note card tucked into my Levi's: "I, Veronica Danielle LaPorte walked on fire. I can do anything."

Would I do it again? Ummm....I....dunno. The evening of that fire walk workshop I asked some of the repeat walkers how it was for them. I was surprised to hear that a lot of them burned their feet on their second walk. "Say whu?! But you already slammed these coals once." The prevailing response: "Yeah, but I got cocky the second time around." Every walk requires a fresh meditation.

Ask any athlete or elite performer. Writers, salesmen, speakers, very big project managers, wide-awake lovers: Success can dull your senses. Each win is a new win, earned with intense focus and an open heart.

Do not take your expertise or natural talent for granted. Stay awake. Hunt. Kill your old material. Listen for new information. Tell a different story in a different way. Crush your gimmicks. Let the page be white. Kiss him like it's your first kiss.

Let your heart race and concentrate. Then and only then, begin.

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join the convoposted 31 Jan 10 in: business + wealth articles, inspiration + spirituality articles   ·   tags: ,   ·   View Comments

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  • Pamela Paulien
    Great post! Having just learned about archetypal experiences, things like becoming a mother, or a warrior (firewalker?) for the first time, the insight I want to share is the first time you touch an archetype it changes you alchemically, (perhaps from lead to gold). The archetype touches and transforms you and you can't relive that life experience again fabulous as it was its gift has already transformed you and you have to keep moving on. Stop looking to feel like you felt during a past archetypal moment but realize you have been changed. This is why they say don't look back.
  • Oh, I love this. I've never "known" anyone who has walked on coals. It makes sense to me that the second time, many would burn their feet. Ego is such a Medusa.

    I'm just beginning to learn how to embrace being a beginner. It's exciting and rewarding, but still uncomfortable.

    Bring on the blank page!

    And don't forget to breathe.
  • "Let the page be white." Pure genius. I will carry that one with me. I think you make a vital point here. We should never assume anything. We should never take success for granted. Hard work never gets old. There is always a good possibility of burning our soles on those proverbial embers.

    Cheers to open eyes and white pages.

    xo
  • Too true! Great post & very honest. Success does dull the senses, but having that burning fire for more is what gets you over those hurdles.
  • Very well written, Danielle. Even better because this is very powerful and short at the same time. You get my heart going. :-)
  • Hi Danielle, I wonder if getting burned the second time is a fear of letting go. You know when someone writes a great first book because they threw caution to the wind and just did it. Then the second time they are so terrified of not living up to their own success that they start holding on tight again.

    giulietta, inspirational rebel
  • MIchelle
    Listen for new information. I love this. Sometimes it comes in a whisper, sometimes a loudspeaker.
  • I've done the firewalk, as well. It's an empowering memory and one I'd all but forgotten about. Thank you for the reminder and another excellent post.
  • This reminds me of the notion of being both evolved and evolving.

    Recognizing that you have this beautiful, sacred life that you've created, and continually listening and watching for ways to enhance that.

    Theklka--Great point about needing the time in-between big risks. A change of pace can be uber-nourishing at those times.
  • I once walked on hot coals myself as part of a Japanese cleansing ceremony right around this time of year in fact... indeed, a very invigorating experience.

    I think another lesson here is that sometimes you need some time in between the adrenalin high of big risk/big adventure. Not exactly a break but a change of pace, a chance to celebrate, a chance to introspect and incorporate the new experience into yourself, to make quieter day-to-day progress on other projects. A chance for the micro-wounds that you don't even feel on your feet to heal up and the moisture naturally present in your skin to replenish itself.

    Launching again into another trip across the hot coals right away without taking that time can indeed get you burned.
  • inspired.
  • Love this! In the unknown, we feel both fear and excitement. The mind can't handle the unknown. But, suddenly, when things have been done but just once, the mind can perform its tricks of feat and pretend it knows. Everything then becomes dull, 'cause its already coming from past experience. I love how your story so clearly shows this.
  • "Success can dull your senses"... This is not something one hears very often, but I do agree. Things become common place and comfortable, and when we stop striving, stop going out of our comfort zone, our vitality suffers.

    Challenging ourselves to go outside your traditional boundaries, to try something all together different, heightens our aliveness and our zest for life. Even if it's not something we plan to be "successful" at, our make a commitment to. ;)
  • tanyageisler
    I uncharacteristically gave this a quick skim from my iPhone (rather than devouring every word as I usually do) and misread "kill your old material" to mean rock it out if it's still got a good beat that can be refreshed. There's possibility there too. And if it really is the same old song, kill it. For real.

    Thank you, as ever!
  • Let your heart race and concentrate. Then and only then, begin.

    I like that a lot!
  • Fabulous timing, my dear! Looking through my blog this weekend, I thought "oh no! My writing has changed, little by little" and with articles due, I began to worry, to secondguess, finally convincing myself oh well, I have changed, so why not my writing a bit? Killing my old material. Love this and many thanks!
  • I like this. For some reason, it stimulates my senses. :)
  • Mel
    never a read a truer thing. it is very easy to get cocky when you done something before. Thanks for that, needed to read that today:)
  • I keep taking new turns and force myself into a beginner's status. You have given me a wonderful self affirming spin for that.. these are good images to support my "habit". The heart racing, the fear and exhiliration before walking the coals- a way to stay humble and reverent at the foot of the next mountain I climb.
  • yes, I'm going for the 'heart racing-focus-thang' with my book-writing these days. at least it helps with the crappy first drafts.
  • Thanks, for some White Hot Truth!

    Like the idea, that you seeked someones advice, before the second round.

    How many of us would just not think of that?

    As a freelancer, I learn not to take anything for granted.

    Some day I'll learn. Some day.

    Clever story Danielle!
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