Many people are afraid of flying. Being locked up in a small tin can and cruising around 30,000 feet in the air gives heart shudders and pits in the stomach to fearful flyers. Despite my initial fears, I overcame in one simple step.
My past
I grew up the oldest in a family with seven kids. My parents instilled in us a love of traveling and exploring the world through road trip and camping. However, the cost of flying with 9 people was a bit out of their financial reach. By the time I graduated college, I had only flown a handful of times.
I was terrified when I flew. I had seen a few news reports or movies about insane plane wrecks. The horrors of crashing to the earth would replay in my mind over and over. I felt every bump all the way to the pit in my stomach. Watching the flight attendants like a hawk to see if I was safe was basically how I spent my time on a flight.
I hated flying. The security, checking bags, waiting to board, the delays, and the turbulence. Every takeoff and landing, induced nausea and headaches.
One of the few flights I took went all the way to Japan as a missionary. I spent 1 1/2 years there. On the way home, we spent a good deal of the flight in turbulence. A light was flickering above my head. I was in full panic mode. I thought I would never see my home again. Never did I pray as hard as I did on that flight. Pleading with God to spare my life. I gripped the seat and tried to stick myself to the plane as best I could. It was 16 straight hours of hand-wrenching anxiety and stress.
And now I don’t bat an eye at any of it!
How did this change?
My husband got a job with an airline. Because we love using our free benefits and seeing the world, we immediately started traveling a lot.
So, I decided not to be afraid of flying anymore. It was just a decision. I knew I wouldn’t travel far or do much if I was afraid, so I just stopped being scared.
I started paying more attention to my kids. Being busy entertaining them, I didn’t have time to feel every bump. I knew that being calm and collect would be important for my kids own emotional health. Not wanting to do anything to make travel more stressful for them, I decided to be calm, inside and out.
But what if you don’t fly with kids? Try talking to your neighbor, or helping a mom with kids? {yes, Please!} Or read a book, listen to music. Just think about anything else! Force your mind to think about a pressing problem or plan an upcoming trip or event. Work if you need to!
I have more faith in the integrity of the plane, the ability of the captains and the regulations of the Federal Government to keep me safe. Watch how calm the flight attendants are, and they have flown nearly every day.
I can’t say that I never have my fears, but now I’ve flown nearly 400 flights. I trust and feel completely safe on an airplane. Out of my many experiences flying, NONE have been even remotely life-threatening.
Flying fears and my Personal Experience
Turbulence
Turbulence is normal. Planes are built to fly in intense wind and pressure. Pilots try to steer clear of turbulence to give you a great, comfortable flight, but it isn’t dangerous. I have flown through majoy turbulence. Although it isn’t comfortable or easy, it also isn’t life-threatening!
Extreme Weather
Planes have so many sensors and gadgets, pilots fly by their metrics more than sight. Being cloudy or rainy isn’t a problem.
We were hit by lightning one time. There was a loud BANG and then a bright flash of light. That familiar fear came back. I headed to the back to talk with the flight attendants. When I mentioned it, they responded with, “Oh cool, that makes 7 times for me!” They weren’t concerned in the slightest. So I decided not to be concerned.
The plane continued on as normal. Because the plane isn’t grounded, the lightning goes right around the plane and continues on. In fact, the planes are designed to endure a lightning strike. Just to ease your fears, after a plane is hit by lightning, they do special testing upon landing to make sure all is well.
Germs
Many of my mom friends say they can’t fly because there are just so many people and germs all locked up together. They are especially nervous for their children. I’ve flown on over 400 flight and my kids have never been seriously ill, ever. I’ve never even used an antibiotic! Yes, maybe we catch a cold or virus here or there, but I feel like taking them into the world is building up their immunities. My body and my kids have strong bodies able to resist many sicknesses. I think this is because they’ve been exposed to many different germs from all over the world. Protecting our kids from every germ is only making them weaker!
Safety Statistics
You only have a 1 in 1.43 million chance of being in an airplane crash. It is the safest form of travel. In fact, in the US there are several years in a row where there are no fatalities associated with plane crashes.
The most dangerous part of your airline flight is the trip to the airport.
Controlling your mind and emotions
The mind is a powerful tool. Despite it trying to keep us safe and protected, we can calm our mind down and choose our own thoughts. Since, emotions are always generated from our thoughts, having power over your thoughts gives control over your emotions. You get to choose your feelings! Why not choose peace, trust, love? Why not believe that the best things will always be right at that destination waiting for you? Instead of being afraid of flying, why not be thrilled or excited about it? Or at the very least calm and peaceful?
What are you afraid of on a plane? What do you do to alleviate these fears?
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