| I've been terrified of heights for as
| |
| | My focus then shifted to experiencing how
|
| long as I can remember and still I insist
| |
| | serene it was up in the sky, only
|
| on white knuckle experiences.
| |
| | occasionally hearing the sound of the
|
| On occasion I've thought it'd be a great
| |
| | burner as it blasted hot air into the
|
| idea for my family and me to ride in
| |
| | balloon above.
|
| glass elevators, take rides on Ferris
| |
| | >From experiencing this serenity my focus
|
| wheels (large or small), check out
| |
| | turned to the burner and feeling the heat
|
| revolving restaurants atop towers - not
| |
| | of the flames.
|
| only is this alone terrifying, vertigo
| |
| | Happy with experiencing what I was, I
|
| also gets thrown in for good measure.
| |
| | began asking myself probing questions
|
| Then there was my absolute fear of flying
| |
| | about my fear. With each answer I would
|
| which thankfully has been dealt with
| |
| | then ask "and what is important about
|
| successfully.
| |
| | that?"
|
| Hot air ballooning is a different kettle
| |
| | Remaining centred and controlling my
|
| of fish. Now I know hot air balloons fly
| |
| | breathing, I continued to answer each
|
| (sort of) however there are no in-flight
| |
| | question fully to myself until there was
|
| rations, flight attendants, movies,
| |
| | nothing left to ask.
|
| headsets, or pressurized cabins. There
| |
| | >From answering my own questions I
|
| is just a big balloon (also called an
| |
| | discovered my fear was based on the fact
|
| envelope - I paid attention during the
| |
| | that there was no jet engine, steering
|
| pre-flight briefing), a basket, a gas
| |
| | wheel, seat belts, escape chute and we
|
| burner and a group of excited people. To
| |
| | were in a basket attached to a really big
|
| me this was not flying, more like
| |
| | balloon!
|
| drifting and floating randomly above the
| |
| | From those answers I then:
|
| earth.
| |
| | * Determined that the likelihood of
|
| What possessed me to voluntarily take a
| |
| | disaster was minimal to nil.
|
| hot air balloon flight I'll never know.
| |
| | * Knew the present moment was the safest
|
| A flight was booked and as luck would
| |
| | place for me.
|
| have it, perfect weather conditions. We
| |
| | * Future paced me. I imagined myself
|
| arrived at the departure point on a cool,
| |
| | eating my champagne breakfast with the
|
| crisp morning before the sun rose. The
| |
| | other passengers after the balloon
|
| other passengers had already arrived and
| |
| | flight, and retelling my story.
|
| were eagerly awaiting the pre-flight
| |
| | * Realised I was actually having an
|
| briefing before take-off.
| |
| | experience of a lifetime which I probably
|
| That was the good bit.
| |
| | will never do again and decided to make
|
| Fear washed through me, it became
| |
| | the most of it.
|
| difficult to breathe, and my heart was
| |
| | Not only that, the captain seemed to know
|
| pounding rapidly. It took supreme effort
| |
| | what he was doing (always encouraging), I
|
| to keep my panic in check and instead,
| |
| | knew the equipment was in great shape (I
|
| not wishing to put a damper on anyone's
| |
| | had a good look), and there was someone
|
| enthusiasm, tried to appear as nonchalant
| |
| | following the balloon in a vehicle below.
|
| as possible.
| |
| | Taking several deep breaths, I refocused
|
| As time for take-off approached my fear
| |
| | on my internal world and connected with
|
| intensified. Finally, as the ropes were
| |
| | peace again, silently giving thanks to my
|
| released from the basket and the balloon
| |
| | years of meditation practise.
|
| slowly made its way upward, my knees
| |
| | At last I was able to truly enjoy this
|
| turned to jelly and the urge to rid
| |
| | exhilarating experience! The peace and
|
| myself of the previous night's dinner
| |
| | tranquillity above the earth with the sun
|
| became overwhelming.
| |
| | rising in the East, and the green rolling
|
| Totally trapped I silently screamed as we
| |
| | hills below was absolutely awesome - I
|
| rose higher and higher from the ground.
| |
| | was in heaven!
|
| What did I do next to overcome this
| |
| | Being in the present moment, focusing on
|
| panic?
| |
| | controlled breathing, as well as becoming
|
| I changed my state.
| |
| | centred helped enormously in dealing with
|
| I remembered to breathe, and with that
| |
| | my anxiety. Not only that by asking the
|
| was able to centre myself (knowledge of
| |
| | question "and what is important about
|
| meditation helps!) to step fully into the
| |
| | that?" got to the heart of my fear.
|
| present moment. It also helped to shift
| |
| | Try asking yourself that question
|
| my focus and become more curious, about
| |
| | sometime when a need crops up. You might
|
| the purple hills I could see on the
| |
| | be surprised as what you discover about
|
| horizon.
| |
| | yourself.
|
