Can I tell you a story?
I started walking a different way home from work recently. There is a pedestrian bridge that goes over the road on my new route and I’ve always hated pedestrian bridges. It’s not rational, my heart beats a little faster and my breath gets panicky so I walk as fast as I can right in the middle so I can get off of them as fast as I can.
I started walking a different way home from work recently. There is a pedestrian bridge that goes over the road on my new route and I’ve always hated pedestrian bridges. It’s not rational, my heart beats a little faster and my breath gets panicky so I walk as fast as I can right in the middle so I can get off of them as fast as I can.
One day last week I’m walking on the new pedestrian bridge thinking that after a while this will seem like no big deal. After walking over it a thousand times it’ll be old and familiar and not scary at all. And at that moment the bridge lost all it’s power over me. Just by imagining what it would be like to not be scared, and knowing that it would happen I suddenly wasn’t scared anymore. Amazing, the power of thought.
Now, thinks me, how can one use this kind of thinking to one’s own advantage? Think of a thought pattern you want to change. Imagine as vividly as possible what it will feel like to think in the new way. Believe, no, know that it will happen. Take it for granted that it will happen and go for it.
Now, thinks me, how can one use this kind of thinking to one’s own advantage? Think of a thought pattern you want to change. Imagine as vividly as possible what it will feel like to think in the new way. Believe, no, know that it will happen. Take it for granted that it will happen and go for it.
cool. that's a pretty strange fear. pedestrian bridge? I just hate how windy they get. And they are always cold. I walked on some pretty cool pedestrian bridges in spain though. design, and pedestrian scale urban environments make all the difference!
ReplyDeleteI share that same fear...My heart always races when going over any bridge, driving or walking. I've had this fear for as long as I can remember. I've also experienced that 'flip-of-the-switch' moment, when you just decide that this is no longer how you will chose to perceive something. It is very empowering.
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