Roger Harty: My Personal Psychological (Fear) Challenge

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rsz_roger_harty‘FEEL the Fear and do it anyway’ is the title of a famous book by Susan Jeffers.

The title of the book speaks for itself – it really is all connected with the area of psychological fear and in simple terms it is telling us to feel i.e. (recognise) the fear but to challenge it and actually find out if the real reason for the fear is real or false.

Remember, real fear in our body is actually something in our body (thoughts!) telling us that if we take a certain action we are going to die.

The only way to ascertain if the fear is real or not is to challenge it and put it to the test.

About three years ago I went on an adventure of a lifetime when we undertook a family trip to New Zealand. Coupled with the excitement of this wonderful experience I saw an opportunity to put my own psychological (fear) challenge to the test. I decided that I was going to do a Bungee jump.

The big day arrived about three days into the holiday when we arrived at the site of famous Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown. Yes I was a little nervous but I was determined to take on the challenge and anyway I was with my two sons (aged 15 and 12 respectively) and I wasn’t going to back down at this stage!! (Time to Man Up!)

The Kawarau Bridge is famous, not because it is the highest jump, but it is regarded as the place in New Zealand where the first Bungee jump took place. The pioneer of this form of adventure was one New Zealander called AJ Hackett. It is a fabulous scenic setting and involves jumping from the Kawarau Bridge overhead into the gorge (water) below.

Of course I did a little bit of research (gathering vital statistics!) I found out that over 700,000 people had undertaken this particular jump and most importantly there hadn’t been any fatality. I really liked what I was hearing – Now just go and do the jump!

Having paid our money at the desk – sidenote: Yes it was a little expensive (about €150), but to be honest, I was a little relieved at that because it meant that all the staff were well paid and trained and that all the ropes were in good working order etc, etc. Not a time for cutting corners! We gathered our traps (ropes, harnesses etc.) and headed for the bridge.

I have spoken and written about the benefits of meditation on many occasions and this is one area where it really came in handy. I decided there and then to focus on my breath – stay away from my thoughts (as they were my only connection with fear), to pay attention to any instructions I was given and to simply get on with it.

That is exactly what I did (J.D.I.  Just Do It) I jumped from the Bridge – still smiling and enjoying the view (I may as well as I won’t be seeing it again!) and sailed through the air down into the water below.

I was picked up by a boat and quickly realised that I was still alive and well and that all the fears that were generated before weren’t real or necessary. I had put them to the test and found out for myself that they were truly false. I was alive!

Needless to say my two boys also did the jump (not a bother) and we celebrated the exciting feeling that we shared for a few days afterwards.

The purpose of this article is not to encourage anyone to do a Bungee jump or to gloat about my particular achievement (I know for a fact that there are much higher and more daring jumps than this one) but to encourage people to challenge their own psychological fears and to put them to the test and find out if they are real or not. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Remember most of these tests of fear happen in everyday life. In America in 2004 zero people were killed in commercial air travel yet over 30,000  died in the same year in road accidents (stats – 1 in 11 million for air travel as against 1 in 5,000 on the road).

Yet more people are afraid of air travel than road travel – this can only be related to psychological fear – i.e the fear doesn’t stand up when put to the test

When you examine the fears and put them to the test and find that the truth – that they are shrouded in falsehood – they are not real despite what our bodies or thoughts are telling us.

F     alse

E     pectations

A     ppearing

R     eal

Next week I am going to write about – Fear continued

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