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A key moment in Tony Robbins’s “Unleash the Power Within” seminar occurs when participants take part in the fire walk.
(Okay, it’s more like a “kinda-hot coals” walk, but “fire” sounds more dangerous and macho and Katy Perry “Roar”-y. After all, Tony does know a little something about branding.)
(Actually, Tony knows a lot about branding.)
(And actually, this is the last time I’ll take a shot at Tony. I think.)
Robbins describes the fire walk as “a symbolic experience that proves if you can make it through the fire, you can make it through anything.”
The premise sounds great: Walking across
kinda-hot coals gives you lasting confidence and motivation by tapping into the amazing power lying dormant within you.
In fact, it doesn’t.
Fire-walking is a one-off event. Fire-walking is like listening to a motivational speech: You go home inspired and excited and all jazzed up... but you wake up the next day the same person you were the day before, because you haven’t truly accomplished anything .
(Except listen. And pay for the seminar.)
Most people are confused about the source of motivation. They think motivation is the spark that automatically produces lasting eagerness to do hard work; the greater the motivation, the more effort you’re willing to put in.
Actually, motivation is a result . Motivation is the pride you take in work you have already done—which fuels your willingness to do even more.
That’s why tips for how to feel more motivated often fall short. Most of that advice can be boiled down to “You can be more motivated. All you have to do is dig deep into your mind and find that motivation within.”
(And burn your feet a little.)
The same is true for confidence, confidence being closely linked to motivation. The thinking goes, “You can be more confident. All you have to do is decide to be more confident.” It’s easy: Suppress negative thoughts, suppress negative perspectives, repeat some really cool self-affirmational statements, and... presto! I’m like Tony Robbins.
Or not.
The main problem in both cases is the way we’ve come to think about motivation.
Most definitions of “motivation” involve some phrase like “the force or influence that causes someone to do something.” Motivation is viewed as a spark, a precondition, a prerequisite, a pre something that is required before we can start. If we aren’t motivated, we can’t start. If we aren’t motivated, we can’t do .
Bullshit.
Real motivation comes after you start. Motivation isn’t the result of hearing a speech or watching a movie or crisping your soles. Motivation isn’t passive; motivation is active.