So were the white tops of our feet that would soon walk on them.
Outsiders would surely look at us as crazy to learn we had driven 200 miles and paid a considerate amount of money to attend a four-day seminar that began with a barefoot firewalk.
We had long been fans of Anthony Robbins, best-selling self-development author of "Unlimited Power," and "Awaken the Giant Within." He had conducted firewalks at well over 100 other similar seminars, creating more than 150,000 "firewalkers" in the process.
He designed the firewalk as a powerful metaphor to clearly show that we live our lives well below our capabilities. We can only achieve that which we believe and most of us harbor severely limiting beliefs. The firewalk was intended to expand those beliefs in spectacular fashion.
Robbins taught us that there are no unresourceful people, only unresourceful mental states. We all have had times in our lives where we did something so well that we surprised ourselves. Robbins taught us how to reaccess that empowering state at will. The upcoming walk on fire made us want to learn the subject quickly!
After hours of mental practice and training, 1,500 of us, from age 8 to 80, left the ballroom barefoot and headed for the fires. A dozen 12-foot rows of red-hot coals awaited us in the parking lot.
One by one, we put ourselves into state, chanted "cool moss, cool moss," and walked purposely over the seemingly impossible challenge. Shouts of elation filled the area as each person successfully walked on fire. High-fives and hugs with strangers followed as the group erupted in celebration. Most of us wanted to walk twice. No one was burned.
As for us, our feet had no damage at all. No pain, no marks, no effect at all. The longer we reflected on what we had just done, the more amazed we became. This fantastic gift of human mind and body is capable of so much more than we ever ask of it. I used to believe this, now I KNOW it.
The rest of the seminar is a blur, but the intended message was burned permanently into our memories.
If we can walk on fire, what other amazing things are we capable of?
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Mike Johnson is a writer & retired entrepreneur. Learn more about Mike's offerings at WorldsBestWriter.com