Back in 1980, two psychologists, Robert Kleck and Angelo Strenta, ran an experiment that still rattles the foundations of how we see ourselves.
Their idea was simple: they wanted to understand how much of our reality is shaped not by what's true, but by what we believe to be true.
They applied fake scars to volunteers' faces using makeup and told them the scar would make them appear "unattractive." After showing them in the mirror, the researchers pretended to "touch it up" — and secretly wiped the makeup away. The participants then went out to meet others, utterly convinced they were scarred.
When they came back, many said people had been staring, avoiding them, judging them. Yet the truth? There was no scar. There never was.
They weren't reacting to reality — they were reacting to their belief about reality.
The Story Behind the Scar
That "invisible scar" is something most of us carry. It might not show on our faces, but it lives in our minds: a memory, a label, a criticism, a voice that says "you're not enough."
We walk into rooms believing we're being judged, dismissed, or overlooked — and so we act in ways that prove it right. We shrink a little. We second-guess. We hesitate.
But the scar isn't real. The belief is.
And that belief shapes everything.
The Day Fire Came to the UK
I first tried to bring firewalking to the UK in 1989.
People thought I'd lost the plot.
"Who on earth would walk on fire?" they asked.
Back then, the concept seemed too far out, too intense — maybe even too spiritual for the British mindset.
But by March 1992, something had shifted. People were searching for something real — something that went beyond the motivational posters and polite affirmations. They wanted to feel transformation, not just talk about it.
So, we ran another firewalk.
And that night, everything changed.
For so many people, it was the start of a new beginning — the moment they realised that fear is a story, pain is temporary, and possibility is limitless.
Because once you've walked on fire, it's not about the coals under your feet — it's about the limits that just dissolved under your mind.
Belief, Control & the Fire Within
Psychologists talk about locus of control — whether you believe life happens to you or through you.
Most of us are conditioned to think externally: "It's not my fault," "I can't help it," "That's just how life is."
That's the mindset of the scar. Powerless. Reactive.
But when you step onto the fire, something flips.
You stop waiting for the world to change. You become the change.
You stop asking, "What if I fail?" and start asking, "What if I don't?"
It's a physical, emotional, and psychological reprogramming.
And it's instant.
The Firewalk as a Mirror
People sometimes ask me, "What's the point of walking on fire?"
The answer is simple: it's not about fire at all.
It's about belief.
The firewalk is a mirror that shows you what's really inside. When you step up to the edge, your old story screams at you — "You can't do this. You'll get hurt. You're not strong enough."
And then, you take that step anyway.
In that moment, you prove yourself wrong — and that proof becomes permanent.
The scar fades. The spark ignites.
Your Turn to Step Forward
You can read about courage, mindset, and psychology for years… but until you take an action that shocks your system awake, you'll never truly know how powerful you are.
That's what firewalking does. It burns through excuses, stories, and invisible scars. It reminds you that belief is not fixed — it's fluid, and you can rewrite it in an instant.
If you're ready to experience that shift for yourself, join us for the Friday Firewalk on 28th November.
Step up.
Step through.
Step into your power.
Because the scar was never real.
The fire is.
And once you've walked it — so are you.
All images created in Canva
About the Author: Steve Consalvez
