Revealing the Secret to Overcoming Your Fears

By TravelWiseJan 14, 2013 18:16 PMOther
Share:
Revealing the Secret to Overcoming Your Fears
Revealing the Secret to Overcoming Your Fears

I’ve had a hard time overcoming my fears. The reason is simple, I’m really scared of heights. Like most fears, it is mostly irrational, although if you fall from a great height it does hurt… I digress, so why am I telling you this in a travel blog. Well, a large part of travel and even some parts of life involve overcoming your fears to achieve your goals.

In my case, overcoming my fears involves high places. Sometimes I intentionally put myself in a position where I’ve had to come to terms with my fears, at other times it is completely unexpected (my worst experience to date was watching a cleaner climb out of a window on the seventeenth floor of a building with a thin rope tied round his chest. Not something I needed to deal with on a hangover).

Arriving at a new city or visiting a place I’ve never been before normally involves taking an elevator to the top of something or climbing something. Whether it’s a mountain or a tall building, the view from the top is almost certainly better than the one that you get from the bottom; as someone who has made all of the effort to visit the place I want to see that view, be wowed and amazed before hurrying back down to the relative safety of the ground. In short I am overcoming my fears all the time.

At times, such as the one where I decided to jump out of a plane with a parachute, I’ve pushed myself to my mental limits and succeeded in overcoming my fears and achieve my goals. Pushing myself has even included more mundane tasks, like climbing the old Dutch lighthouse in Bangka Belitung. Looking back at those experiences, the sense of satisfaction I have and the memories I’ve got make the experience so worthwhile.

Just above this paragraph is a photo from the last time I managed to overcome my fear of heights, when I went diving in Raja Ampat (I Know I’m standing at the top of a hill, but at the time it was the best place to appreciate the ocean ;)). The view from the top and the experience of getting there is a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Like so much in life, if you don’t try, you will never succeed, which is what makes overcoming my fears such a satisfying thing.

Top Articles
Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Feb 14, 2025 15:00 PM

Top Tips for Securing Your Luggage and Preventing Loss

Feb 7, 2025 14:00 PM

Your Guide to Hand Luggage and Baggage Rules

Feb 4, 2025 20:00 PM
More News
Cozy hotel room with wooden headboard and framed artwork above the bed

NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano Opens in Historic City Center

Jul 30, 2025 21:45 PM
Qatar Airways aircraft in flight against blue sky

Qatar Airways Boosts Winter Flights to Key Global Destinations

Jul 30, 2025 19:22 PM

ScotRail Boosts Late-Night Services to Ease Travel During Edinburgh Festivals

Jul 30, 2025 07:38 AM

Two Tickets in One Click: JetBlue and United Simplify Complex Routes

Jul 29, 2025 23:43 PM
Bedroom interior with bedside table and lamp

Florø Prepares to Expand Accommodation Options for Visitors

Jul 29, 2025 21:36 PM
Southwest Airlines aircraft ascending with snowy mountains in the background

Southwest Changes Boarding Rules and Adds New Winter Destinations for 2026

Jul 29, 2025 19:28 PM
Modern hotel room with double bed, armchair, and wall art

Hyatt Centric Anjuna Goa to Open in Town Center, Bringing New Stay Option to Anjuna

Jul 29, 2025 17:42 PM
Woman checking travel information on her phone during a flight

Philippine Airlines Introduces Pre-Flight Emails with Essential Travel Details

Jul 29, 2025 02:35 AM
Railway workers performing track maintenance during engineering works

Weekend Engineering Works to Affect Rail Access Between Stalybridge and Dewsbury

Jul 28, 2025 23:25 PM

New Non-Stop Route from Cape Town Opens Up Mauritius for Travelers

Jul 28, 2025 21:32 PM

East Midlands Railway Cuts Fares on Summer Routes Across UK

Jul 28, 2025 20:47 PM
Person using smartphone at airport

New Ryanair System Changes How Travellers Book Through Agencies

Jul 28, 2025 16:26 PM
Modern hotel room with large window and city view

Holiday Inn Express Brings Overnight Option to Changanassery’s Lively Local Streets

Jul 28, 2025 14:33 PM
American Airlines aircraft preparing for departure on the runway

Denver Departure Chaos: American Airlines Flight Evacuated After Smoke Alert

Jul 27, 2025 23:54 PM
View from airplane window showing coastline and river below during flight over Borneo

Malaysia and Indonesia Open New Direct Air Routes to Simplify Travel to Borneo

Jul 27, 2025 20:31 PM

Rail Disruptions in Liguria: RFI Construction Projects Will Impact August Travel

Jul 26, 2025 23:41 PM

New daily Condor flights reshape the flight map of Europe

Jul 26, 2025 21:37 PM
Airplane flying overhead against a partly cloudy sky

Gdańsk Opens New Direct Route to Agadir, Simplifying Travel to Morocco’s Coast

Jul 26, 2025 20:26 PM
China Airlines Airbus in flight with clear sky background

New Direct Flights Connect Taipei and Phoenix, Expanding Access to Southwest U.S. Destinations

Jul 26, 2025 19:43 PM
Rail maintenance machinery working on tracks in South Wales

South Wales Rail Upgrades to Impact Travel Access in Early August

Jul 26, 2025 18:39 PM
easyJet aircraft on airport tarmac with boarding stairs

Euro Final in the Sky: easyJet to Announce Scores to Passengers During Flights

Jul 25, 2025 23:27 PM
Multiple railway tracks with red signal and overhead wires

Expect Delays: Leicester–Peterborough Line Closed 2 and 3 August

Jul 25, 2025 21:34 PM

Steam-Powered Day Trips from London Unlock Access to Britain’s Hidden Landscapes

Jul 25, 2025 20:42 PM

New Air Partnership Opens More Direct Travel Routes Between North America and Africa

Jul 25, 2025 15:28 PM
Wizz Air aircraft approaching landing in clear sky

New Wizz Air Flights Open Southern Europe to Gdańsk Travellers

Jul 25, 2025 10:35 AM
Railway workers performing maintenance on stacked rail tracks

Verona and Vicenza Rail Line Closed in August Affecting Travel Plans

Jul 25, 2025 01:48 AM