Get All Access for $5/mo

Tony Robbins on the Importance of Being Fearless The acclaimed life and business coach discusses one of the more dramatic ways he encourages people to overcome fear and move forward with their pursuits.

By Jason Fell

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

oprah.com

Fear. It's an emotion everyone experiences. We feel it when we think we're in the presence of or doing something that might cause us pain or injury -- physically, financially, etc. It's what secures us from dangerous things.

But sometimes fear can stop us from doing great things. For example, fear of failure or loss of money often holds people back from becoming an entrepreneur and starting a business.

Fear is one of the many topics acclaimed life and business coach, author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins addresses in his seminars. You might have already heard of one way he does this: Robbins has attendees walk across burning coals. Yep, you read that right. The goal? To teach people to overcome their fears and take the first step beyond whatever might be holding them back.

While some have criticized the practice, others swear by it. Even Oprah did it. Her walk -- as well as an in-depth conversation with Robbins -- was featured on a 2012 episode of her TV show Oprah's Next Chapter.

"People by nature are trained, almost innately, to be scared of fire and to keep away from it," Robbins says. "That is why walking through a pathway of fire is a powerful expression of moving beyond one's fears. Walking over any hot surface does encompass some risks, but it has been done safely for centuries, and when administered properly can have enormous value as a reminder of what we are truly capable of."

Related: Tony Robbins on the 7 'Forces' of Business Mastery

So, it's not so much about the act of walking over burning hot coals, but about having people face and overcome something in spite of fear.

"It's simply a metaphor for them to break through their fears and limitations," Robbins says. "If you look at what holds people back from expanding and deepening the quality of their lives, what prevents them from taking the actions that are necessary to transform their body, relationships, career, business or impact their kids, invariably, it's fear -- of failure, of success, of rejection, of pain and of the unknown."

In his business seminars, Robbins encourages entrepreneurs to move past fear, in their personal and professional lives, in order to become more confident, productive and successful at everything they do. "Just like anyone can start their day with a killer workout, find a way to master a craft, find meaning in their work or create a passionate and loving relationship," he says, "the secret lies in being able to break through the fear and unlock the limiting beliefs to create the life of your dreams."

Related: Keys to Success: Overcoming 5 Fears That Hold Entrepreneurs Back

Jason Fell

VP, Native Content

Jason Fell is the VP of Native Content, managing the Entrepreneur Partner Studio, which creates dynamic and compelling content for our partners. He previously served as Entrepreneur.com's managing editor and as the technology editor prior to that.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

A Former Corporate Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How She Does It

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

Business News

Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here's What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

The famed startup accelerator offers a free course on building a business — and answers five pressing questions for founders.