Now that the firewalk is over, I have had time to think about it. I spent last Friday evening at Ferring Country Center doing a Firewalk and then drinking fizz to celebrate while wearing my medal.
It is hard to explain how a firewalk works, but it is easy to explain that it’s a good analogy for life. After five firewalks and watching all my fellow walkers, I have learnt a few things.
Here are my five key lessons from my Firewalk: It mirrors the challenges, fears, and breakthroughs we face in our personal and professional journeys. It’s best not to overthink it, don’t faff about it and just to get on with it, it will make you feel so good afterward.
Life is better with friends, with people cheering you on. These friends make you accountable, provide support, and can celebrate with you. Each Firewalker had a different reason for doing it – they wanted to celebrate recent wins, it was on a bucket list, they wanted to mark a new chapter in their life or they needed a shift in thinking,
5 Powerful Lessons from My Firewalk
1. Mind Over Matter: The Power of Belief
The most obvious takeaway is the concept of mind over matter. Before stepping onto the glowing embers, I had to convince myself that I wouldn’t get burned and could trust the process.
Your instincts tell you not to do it, and it will hurt! It felt like a mental marathon—my brain was telling me, “You’re going to get hurt!” But once I took that first step, you have no choice but to continue. The heat wasn’t unbearable, and you feel a little braver with each step. Standing still and waiting for my turn was the most challenging bit. At that moment, you could easily turn around and head to the back of the queue. I just kept repeating to myself JFDI!
I remember feeling the same when I was nervous on the start line at the Greenland Half Marathon and just thinking, start the race and let me go! Once you start, you carry on! The science behind firewalking is simple – yet still hard to understand. The surface of the embers cools down just enough for brief contact without causing injury, but the psychological hurdle is far more important. It’s all about belief and focus. If you hesitate or overthink, you increase the risk. In life, just like in firewalking, sometimes you have to trust your mind and push forward.
2. Don’t Get in Your Own Way
What stops most people from firewalking isn’t the embers—it’s their own fear. Standing at the edge of the fire pit, you have two choices: stand paralyzed by fear or step forward with your inner strength.
As I took my first step, I realized how often we create barriers that don’t need to exist in life. We overthink, we hesitate, and we sabotage ourselves. I do this mostly at night when I wake up—my inner worries, doubts, and self-sabotage are worse in the earlier hours!
Firewalking taught me that the only thing holding me back was me. With a little encouragement, gentle nudge in right direction or larger kick up the bum from friends and family they can get you back on the right path.
Whether you’re taking on your next big project or starting a new adventure, don’t let fear block your path. More often than not, the biggest obstacle is our own mindset. Run it past your trusted supporters and make a plan!
The longest firewalk was set by Scott Bell of UK Firewalk in 2006 – he walked 100 meters on hot coals! I think we did about 5 meters and that was long enough for me!
3. It’s So Much Easier with Friends
I love cheering people on – it’s good for your soul and sends waves of positivity through the airways. I am not a great fan of adventures on my own; I always love to have a crew with me. When you see others take that brave step forward, it encourages you to do the same. An incredible sense of camaraderie comes from experiencing something so intense together. This mirrors many challenges in life. A solid support system makes the journey far more manageable when faced with something daunting. Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, a good team makes all the difference. When I am away on adventures and you have had a rough day, its good to have a cup of tea with a buddy and talk about the challenges, it takes the edge off and often injects a little humour and some madness!
4. It’s Fun, I Promise Everyone was Smiling!
You might think that walking across hot coals is a nerve-wracking, serious affair. Yes, that’s true! But here’s the twist: it’s fun! Once the initial fear wore off, it became exhilarating. There was a rush of adrenaline, I could feel my heart pumping as the excitement kicked in. Pushing beyond what you thought was possible brings a strange, unexpected happiness. Most of the group walked 2 or 3 times – as the first time, you don’t really remember anything, and then you want to walk again to embrace the experience. You could see the joy and happiness written all over people’s faces.
5. Money Raised, Hearts Changed
One of the most rewarding parts of the firewalk experience was knowing it was all for a good cause. The event was part of a charity fundraiser, and together, we raised a significant amount of money for Ferring Country Center. Knowing that every step contributed to something bigger than myself added a layer of purpose to the challenge. It also stops you from pulling out! It’s a very public way to keep you accountable!
According to Guinness World Records, the largest firewalk was held in India in 2017. Over 1,356 participants participated, raising millions for charity.
Final Thoughts: Walk Through Fire
Firewalking isn’t just a stunt; it’s a metaphor for life. It showed me that our minds are far more powerful than we realize. The only fundamental limitations we face are the ones we create for ourselves.
So, remember these lessons if you ever find yourself at the edge of a fire pit—literal or metaphorical. Take a deep breath, trust yourself, and step forward using my mantra, JFDI!
Thank you, Ferring Country Center, all the volunteers, and Event Manager Sara Guiel for organizing such a great evening.
Thank you to Steve and his team from Firewalking UK for keeping us safe
More PinkNicky Blog here
It’s time for Tea and Biscuits!
Thank you for reading today’s Blog 5 Powerful Lessons Learnt from Firewalking – if you have any recommendations please add them in the comments below.
