Feeling the pull: the decision to attend UPW

Searching for direction and improvement in my life and business, I felt a strong pull to attend Unleash the Power Within (UPW) - an event hosted by renowned philanthropist, Tony Robbins. Despite only being vaguely familiar with Robbins's work, an intuitive nudge compelled me to attend. Unbeknownst to me, this decision was about to take me on a transformative journey.

Before UPW, I was in a difficult place. I wrestled with kickstarting my life after a disruptive personal experience. My knowledge of Mr. Robbins's work was minimal, limited to a few podcast episodes and a documentary. When the thought of attending UPW sprouted in my mind one morning, I took it as a sign and reached out to their sales team.

Securing a ticket to the event felt like a leap of faith. I didn’t know how I’d pay for it, but I knew I had to attend. Despite the cost, my intuition crawled out of my skin to attend. I committed with the last money I had left, savoring the uncertainty and unpreparedness as part of the adventure. While I didn’t know I I got myself into, I committed to giving it my best shot.

Preparing for the unknown: the journey begins

The excitement racked as I filled out the pre-event workbook. The exercises, designed by Robbins and his team, opened my eyes to self-development aspects I previously ignored. In a few minutes, I learned more about myself than the preceding months. My journey had officially begun.

The first day at the venue overwhelmed me, in a good way. Thousands of participants from around the world brimmed with excitement and anxiety. Despite the whirlwind, I felt a sense of belonging. I still didn’t know why or how I had gotten there, but the Universe conspired to make this happen, and stepping out of my comfort zone was exactly what I needed.

Walking on fire: the transformative experience

Throughout the long weekend, I absorbed a wealth of knowledge and insights from masters at their craft. I mined into the depths of my psychology, jumped and fist-pumped in heart-pounding activities, even walked on smoldering coals. The event pushed many of my limits, especially physical. But with each minute of pain came a profound and long lasting transformation.

By the hand of other ordinary humans that achieved the extraordinary, UPW shed light on many aspects of my life that I had overlooked. It helped me connect the dots of past experiences, understanding the driving forces behind my emotions and behaviors. I learned to disrupt old unconscious patterns, opening my eyes to the power of the mind and the constant manipulation we face in our daily lives.

The aftermath: implementing changes

My weekend ended by getting stranded in Palm Beach International (PBI) airport and sleeping on the floor. I travelled light on this trip — a 21L pack with bare essentials — so I found a dark corner and used my luggage as pillow. I made my way back to NJ, excited to share my newfound knowledge and Jedi-mind-skills with those I loved.

Back home, I contemplated my experience and realized I received much more that I could bargain for. 3 days of immersive training were 2 more than I felt I paid for, but it was the post-event impact that surprised me most. I implemented changes and new strategies in my life instantly. I replaced my medication with exercise and journaling, learning about specific methods that target the same parts of the brain. My diet got revamped and simplified, and I shed 25 lbs without much effort. My emotional growth was also profound, and learned new ways of achieving “impossible” emotional states, pulverizing years of trauma and limiting beliefs.

Attending UPW was a leap of faith, a plunge into the unknown. But the transformations I experienced were profound, far surpassing anything I had anticipated. Since the event, I've accomplished things that seemed impossible before. I now understand the power of taking action, of investing in yourself. The lessons I learned continue to reverberate through my life, impacting not just me, but also those around me.

Some tips for attending

For those considering attending UPW, below are some suggestions I found useful and would follow on your first try, or my next time around.

• Bring a light jacket: The arena is designed to keep you cold, awake and alert. Embrace it, adapt and overcome by jumping more.

• Bring very comfortable shoes: If you do it right, you will jump, scream and dance until exhaustion. Make it easier to be uncomfortable by bringing shoes you can wear all day.

• Commit to go full out, or don’t go: Tickets aren’t cheap for those to just looking for fun. There is nothing random at UPW, every second designed to give you the best experience possible. By holding back due to negative self talk, you will defeat the purpose of the event, and your attendance.

• Pricier tickets = same fun: While I’ve seen people getting picked from the front-center audience often, purchasing the most expensive ticket won’t change your experience. I saw plenty of head-in-phone folks in the platinum section, while others in the back had the time of their life. More expensive tickets, however, do include perks and donate more meals to the Feeding America campaign, committed to providing 1 Billion (with a B) meals to families by 2025.

• Make friends and network: One of the best parts about attending uncommon events, is connecting with people who like the same things. Everyone I met at UPW radiated energy and wanted to be better. Many started stiff like mummies on the fist day, but out-danced many on the last. I met incredible people from all walks of life, and the connections you make can last lifetime if nurtured.
  

Living proof: the real-life application of UPW lessons

It’s been 8 months since I attended UPW, yet I continue to reap benefits from it. A few days ago, I drove for 29 hours straight from Colorado Springs to New Jersey, a grueling task that challenged me physically, mentally and emotionally. The RV we rented was in poor shape, shredding tires over a few hundred miles due to poor alignment. To add to the challenge, we travelled as a family and my loved ones depended on me to get us home safely.

The trip was rife with obstacles, from 8 year-old dry-rotted tires to a tornado that forced us into a garage. Yet, I pulled it off, and even continued through the next day full of energy and vigor. I didn’t achieve this feat through mere willpower or special training, but through the tools and strategies I learned at UPW. From breathing to physical exercises, I used tactics to keep my energy high, maintain focus and push past mental exhaustion. It’s remarkable what we are capable of given the right tools to tap into the power within.

Getting home safe — and having fun in the face of uncertainty —  is a testament to how UPW equipped me to persevere when things get tougher than expected. This “vacation” could have been a nightmare, but instead, it became an example of the strength and resilience I re-discovered at UPW.

If you're in search of transformation, breaking through difficult challenges, or uncovering your potential, UPW is worth considering. The adventure of life is challenging, but learning from those who won at all games is priceless, and the rewards beyond anything I could imagine.