Soul Acrobats founder Alvin Tam uses acrobatic exercises to help people break through their fears. He also challenges his own fears in other ways. When I read this piece he wrote, I knew I wanted to pass it along. Alvin agreed. Here’s his story.
Every now and then I will do strange experiments to push my boundaries of comfort further. Being an acrobat in the circus means that I attempt flips, handstands, and high falls to challenge my physical skills and grow as an athlete. Being an acrobat of the soul means that I challenge my values, belief systems, and automatic behaviors so that I grow as a human being.
Last December, on a chilly winter day, I decided to challenge a deeply rooted fear I had by spending 24 hours on the street homeless. I carried no credit cards, cash, I.D., cell phone, house keys, extra jackets, tissue papers, chapstick, iPod (what else do you usually leave the house with?)
I set off in the direction of downtown, carried by my own two feet, dressed in a tattered sweats, to challenge a fear (read: belief) that my failure as a businessman would lead to me being homeless.
I believed the equation: financial failure = homelessness. Do you believe this too?
I did and I needed to confront it. I chose to experience homelessness for 24 hours. Here are the highlights:
• you can’t thumb a ride in Las Vegas if you look like a bum
• panhandling is one of the most difficult things to do
• I’m not a good panhandler; I made $2 in 24 hours
• nothing costs less than a dollar, except for bananas at 7-11
• it gets cold at night, even in Las Vegas
• misery likes company – I never realized how many homeless people there are
• people look at you with hate in their eyes when you beg
I literally walked for 12 of the 24 hours because no one would pick me up and I had no money for the bus. I also got kicked out of a public library, so sitting down in a quiet, warm place was not an option.
I ended up walking to the worst part of Las Vegas, the hidden, swept-under-the-rug part called “Tent Village” because of all the bums living in tents on the side of the road.
There I encountered hundreds of homeless men milling about, exchanging words about where to get the next meal, who’s handing out free socks, how many nights the local shelter lets you stay, and the best places to bum for money. When I bumped into another group of men, the conversation was the same. Another group, same conversation.
That’s when it struck me.
I can never be homeless.
I don’t say that with an arrogant or pretentious intention. I say it because I simply don’t talk like a homeless person which is to say I don’t think like a homeless person.
And that was the kernel of wisdom of my exploration into my fear of financial failure. I realized that though I could fail in business, I could never become homeless. I just don’t have the belief that I would end up on the streets.
I do speak like a professonal acrobat. While others are scared about heights, rapidly moving vehicles, and fire, I get enthused and excited.
I do speak like a professional marketer. While others are lamenting about the economy, I talk about new online marketing techniques, social networking, blogging, and computer technology.
But…
I don’t speak like a millionaire entrepreneur. While millionaires are busy talking about their next deal, strategizing on new partnerships, and planning an investment, I talk about covering my mortgage, putting gas in my car, and the 3 for 1 special on avocados at the store. I spend too much time talking like an average income producer.
What do you talk about?
Here are the 3 things you can do to benefit from my experience on the streets:
1. Write down everything you say in 1 day.
2. Listen to the conversations or language of someone you want to emulate (a business person, a great athlete, a professional speaker)
3. Have a conversation with a homeless person and listen to his dialogue.
If you notice, all these activities are simply about building awareness, since awareness is the main catalyst for change.
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