How to overcome fear using a bungy jump as a metaphor

I wasn’t planning to. I had taken an overseas visitor along at his request. At the last minute I decided I might as well give it a go myself. I have also jumped out of a plane with a parachute. (Using a static line, therefore a solo jump.) I am known for not being held ransom to my fears, at least the big easy to see fears. The more subtle, human emotional fears...well that is a different matter.

All of us are held ransom to our fears somewhere in our lives. For me, bungy jumping was easy. Other things...not so easy.

I did learn a very powerful lesson on how to overcome fear from the bungy jump. On that day I was sitting at ground level for about an hour, watching people go up in the crane, having their legs tied together, and then launching (or not launching) themselves off the platform.

It was very clear that there was a strategy involved if you wanted to learn how to overcome fear and succeed to launch off the platform. When the assistant said five, four, three, two, one, BUNGY, you launched. No hesitation. Not even for a second. Those people who did hesitate often were still there, paralysed, still trying to figure out how to overcome fear....five, ten, twenty minutes later. Actually, many of them came back down, deciding not to jump.

I figured if I was going to do this, if I was going to go up to the top of the crane, then I had to already trust that they would get my weight ratio right, and I would not hit the water, or go below the water, or that the bungy cord would hold and I would not be catapulted into the air somewhere. If I didn’t trust this, then fool am I to even get up on the tower.

Step 1.

When we learn how to overcome our fear, we must first do our due diligence. I had surmised that the risks of accident were very minimal. What are the risks for you to do the things you fear the most? Write them down. Look at them objectively. Will your life be in danger? Will your reputation be threatened? How can you mitigate the risk? Is there some research that would help, some support from others?

Step 2.

The only thing that was paralysing people was fear. And it was an irrational fear, not based on danger, or even the threat of danger, but on fear itself. Fear of fear. How to overcome fear of fear...just do it. It really is that simple. Deep breath and go for it!

Therefore, my strategy was to get up there, and go when the assistant said BUNGY. No hesitation.

Up I went. They tied my legs together with the think bungy cords. I was safely at the back of the cage. However, my heart was racing. My mind was screaming. The screaming in my head was so loud there was hardly room for anything else. All the reasons and excuses as to why this was a stupid idea. All the ways I could stop, change my mind, do something else....endless screaming.

The strategic part of me, the only part of me that was sane at this point, sat quietly watching the whole inner cacophony. Resolute. Determined. Thank you for sharing your fears, but I am not going to listen to you. Not today. This is how to overcome fear.

On instructions I hopped to the end of the cage. It was a beautiful day. Sunshine, blue water. Not that I really noticed. The screaming was even louder.

Five, four, three, two, one, BUNGY! Despite the screaming, and in spite of it, I launched off the platform, arms spread wide, a perfect bungy. The screaming didn’t stop until the first bounce, about 2 metres above the water, when it was replaced with clear shock and an open mouth full lung scream. And then the second bounce, and I fell into the pure exhilaration of the experience. I found myself laughing with the joy of it.

The fear is always there. It plays with us, offers us safety nets, tempts us with a comfortable place to hide. It seduces, cajoles, manipulates. It is very very clever. Seth Godin calls it the resistance. Also known as the lizard brain. That part of us that is primitive, reptilian. Designed at the early part of our evolution for flight/fight. It has its uses. When the risks are high, fear is a good thing. Running from a fire is lifesaving. There are some times that it is wise to not learn how to overcome fear.

However, when the risks are low, fear is the very thing that keeps us small.

I learned that day that the noise of the screaming was not going to stop. Either I allowed it to stop me, or I chose to jump anyway.

Where do we allow the fear to stop us? If we have done our due diligence, calculated the risk, and determined that the true risks are small why do we still stop? Sure, we might look like a fool, not be liked, be seen as intrusive, have to face rejection...all of these deep emotional fears are the very ones that keep us small and separate from living the full measure of life.

Why should we bother breaking through these fears? Because on the other side is everything we have always wanted. Let me repeat, because this is very important, on the other side of our fear is everything we have ever wanted.

Five, four, three, two, one, BUNGY.

Write down your fears.Put the biggest, baddest on the top. Find a friend to do the same, and work with each other to launch. Life is too short to be held hostage to our fears.

Ask your boss for a raise, ask the guy out, say no to your spouse, or yes! Call the person, take up singing lessons, write the book, present your proposal, learn something new, accept the new role....break through the resistance to change.

Apparently Lawrence Olivier, known as one of the greatest thespians of all time, was so nervous before each performance that he threw up. His nerves never got any better. Every day, no matter what state his nerves, he got up and performed. He knew how to overcome fear. He practiced breaking through the resistance every day. How...he stepped onto the stage and performed.

To Return from How to Overcome Fear to Personal Sustainability

To Return to Positive Deviant Home Page

New! Comments