I don’t usually think about such things until after the fact –
but for someone who used to be terrified of flying – I picked
one helluva a way to overcome my fear.
Several years ago I chose to invest in a vacation home on
China’s Hainan Island.
By air it takes 22 hours – and that does NOT include transition
time from one airport to the next. There is usually a layover
of 3-4 hours in Los Angeles. Then, I usually stay a day or so
in Shanghai or Beijing before making the final leg of the flight
to Hainan.
“Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain,” was a
saying I learned moons ago – and it’s true. Sure, I could stay home,
never fly anywhere and try to convince myself that my fear had been
overcome – but tis not my definition of conquering something.
To conquer you get into the arena – you DO what you fear doing.
You overcome by exposure to the fear, not by denial of it. And
when you face your fear, you use your mind instead of letting
your mind use you.
You stay conscious. You stay awake. You notice what you’re doing
to yourself to be afraid. You take note of what you’re picturing in
your mind and how you’ve pictured it. You see how you breathe when
afraid and compare it to how you breathe when courageous. You scan
your thoughts and ferret out the ones that don’t serve you – then make a
choice to focus on those that help you.
As you do this you begin to overcome your fear – or any other negative
habit pattern. Gradually you take control of the reins. And as you gain
control you figure out how to seize even more of it.
After some time in the arena of fear, you are only fearful half the time.
Then you slice that half in half and you’re down to a quarter of the time.
Then 10%. Then 1%. Then never.
Occasionally you may have a brief relapse. By brief I mean 2-3 seconds. When
this happens you immediately catch yourself and get your mind back on track.
You train your mind. You are in charge. Never forget that – even when it’s hard.
Next year I have a number of foreign trips planned. Not just to China – but
to Japan, Greece and other places I’ve never visited. None of these visits
would take place if I told myself that I was afraid of flying and there was
nothing I could do about it. None of these trips would be possible if I refused
to do the thing I feared til the death of fear was certain.
Anything you fear doing – you can do, if you’ll get up and move in the midst of
the fear.
Fear is not subject to reason very often – but it is always subject to movement.
Make a choice to move – and often – and you’ll be the master of your fate, the
lord of your destiny.
Best,
P.S. At my February seminar I’ll be showing you how to conquer fear like never
before – be sure to come MOVE through whatever you think is holding you back.
Go to http://www.mattfurey.com/007_fitness_bootcamp.html
P.P.S. Be sure to check out Dr. Maxwell Maltz’ Zero Resistance Living Program