daniel chigunwe
Dr Keen Mhlanga
The fear of flying is a well-known phobia. For many people, simply getting on a plane can provoke jitters, sweaty palms, or even an anxiety attack while on board.
People with severe cases may even avoid flying entirely. However, people who must travel large distances for work simply cannot avoid flying. And one of them happened to be Muhammad Ali.
Fortunately, his greatest struggle with anxiety occurred during the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Ali had to be encouraged not only by his trainers to travel to the games, but also by the United States Air Force.
“What I was afraid of most was the plane crashing and nothing would satisfy me until I called the Air Force and asked them to give me a record of plane flights between Rome and America,” he said in his book of memoirs.
“They claimed they could not remember the last time one had crashed. That calmed me down enough to board the aircraft to Rome. Finally, he boarded the plane, and as you are cognisant of, he won.
The great fighter had a severe phobia of flying and today an airport is named in his honour, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
There are several ways to turn one’s worries into strengths. One strategy is to change your thoughts about the fear.
For example, instead of viewing public speaking as something to be afraid, consider it an opportunity to share your thoughts and interact with people.
Another strategy for turning fears into strengths is to focus on the positive outcomes that can result from confronting your anxieties.
For example, overcoming your fear of public speaking may give you the confidence to speak up in other aspects of life.
Many successful entrepreneurs overcame their concerns to become successful. For example, Walt Disney was afraid of failure, yet he overcame it and founded the Walt Disney Company. J.K. Rowling suffered from melancholy and financial insecurity, but she went on to become one of the world’s most successful novelists.
Oprah Winfrey battled bigotry and sexism, but she become one of the most prominent persons in the world. Bill Gates was frightened of public speaking, but he went on to become one of the world’s most famous and successful corporate leaders.
Be honest with yourself. Admit that you are terrified. That is the first step. Then decide how you will deal with that fear.
You are creating a plan and being proactive. Instead of allowing your anxieties to control you, take a leap of faith and overcome your concerns. You will likely discover out you can achieve more than you had ever imagined possible and enjoy yourself while doing it.
Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes at some point in their lives. What one does after making a mistake distinguishes individuals who want to challenge themselves to improve from others who will remain complacent and repeat the same mistakes.
Do not be complacent, but don’t be too harsh on yourself. Learn from your mistakes. Consider them as lessons learned or growth pains.
Most likely, you will emerge as a better version of yourself than if you had never made the mistake in the first place.
People typically believe that sharing similarities with others works best. While commonalities are significant, differences make us all distinct. They set each of us apart. There is merit in not blending in but rather standing out.
Having fresh and varied ideas, viewpoints, and ways of being can help increase productivity and creativity. Do not hide your unique qualities; instead, highlight them.
Choose a bold aim that you are enthusiastic about. Think big! What simple, realistic steps can you take to achieve your goal? Also, examine the people who can help you achieve your goal.
Who will provide honest input, offer expertise, or simply listen as issues arise? Continue to contact your support team as needed. Remember, doing one action at a time will get you there.
Once your objective has been met, recognise the guts it required and how you have developed during the process. But don’t stop there; pick another stretch objective to tackle. Confidence is about repeatedly stepping up, facing fear, and going forward anyway.
“Always do what you are afraid to do.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
(Extracted from a book by Dr Keen “Mhlanga Financial Match”.)
Dr Keen Mhlanga is an investment advisor with high skills in finance. He is the executive chairperson of FinKing Financial Advisory. Send your feedback to [email protected]; contact him on 0777597526.
Bongani Ndlovu