How can the phobias we have be part of a topic of leaving comfort zones? I thought of this for awhile today and yesterday and decided, yes they can...especially when we decide to not allow the phobia control us. Here is where I shall begin........
It is a delightful winter day. The sun is now shining and the snow has stopped. Josh and his sisters have been out for awhile when he calls me to come see his handiwork. I get my coat on and go to where he is standing at a grand snow tunnel he diligently carved out from a snow drift. It curved around in an arch but I could see through and I could have easily gotten through. Being the "good" mom that I was I got down on my knees to crawl through. (That's when I discovered claustrophobia in such a constricting fashion that even writing about that experience causes my heart rate to increase and my hands to perspire.) I froze about half way through the tunnel with Josh behind me, curious as to why I was not going all the way. I could not move forward! I ordered him to back out of the tunnel and as quick as I could I stood upright and have battled claustrophobia ever since.
How does this fit into my leaving my "comfort zone" topic? Well, I have not allowed my phobia to rule me. Yes I battle it in may was but I have always been determined that it would not rule me. I made myself go int Howe's Cavern. I make myself go into elevators when they are crowded...I hate it, indeed. I make myself go into small closets but I talk to myself the whole time telling myself that the door is open, or if I have to be in a small room I look for a window. There are ALWAYS ways around our fears, our phobias if we just look.
A very wise 7 year old was talking to her Papa one day after he discovered she was frightened of something. He took a few moments to explain whatever it was that scared her, telling her the "ins and out's" of whatever it was, how it worked, etc. Then she said. "Thank you, Papa, for tell me all about that. Now I won't be scared anymore."
Wow, I had a similar experience as a child...I crawled into a snow bank tunnel, and another kid decided to jump up and down on top while I was inside! The whole thing collapsed on me. I was pinned down inside, my screams muffled under the snow. Finally the other kids dug me out. I still shudder when I see kids playing in snow tunnels! Then there was my big brother who used to like to pin me down and hold a pillow over my face laughing while I was on the verge of suffocation...or my cousins that locked me in an attic cubby in the dark with the "boogy man", ignoring my screams.. yeah, not too thrilled about confined spaces either !
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