P Is For Phobias

Day 16 of my A to Z Challenge. P is for Phobias.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

 

I think it’s fair to say that everyone is scared of something. The important part is how you handle the fear. You need to find a way to deal with it. Whether that be by not putting yourself in the path of whatever you are afraid of, or by purposely putting yourself in its path to try to get over it. Whatever works for you! You may never fully eradicate it, but if it doesn’t affect your life in a negative way, than to me you’re winning!

I think some fears we grow out of (like monsters under the bed) and some we grow into (like health scares, facing our own mortality). These are something everyone has on some level, its human nature.

When I was young, I was terrified of spiders. I know it’s irrational, I don’t live anywhere where there are dangerous spiders, but that didn’t make it any less real. I couldn’t walk into a room with checking every inch of it for a spider. If I saw one, I would scream blue murder. I now class myself as over it. While I will never be a fan of spiders, they no longer send me into blind panic. I don’t scour everywhere I go looking for them. If I do happen to spot one, I just pop it outside (with a glass and paper, I’m not into holding them!), and move on with my life. I can’t remember when I stopped being scared of them, but I think a lot of it was as I grew older, I didn’t want to be that girl that was scared of spiders, so every boy in a one mile radius would try to capture one and throw it at me, so I pretended not to be afraid. It was hard at first but it worked. Fake it until you make it and all that.

I am still utterly terrified of water that is deeper than boob height (for want of a better description). I understand where this one comes from at least. I can’t swim, so water is kind of dangerous to me, so at least that makes it rational! I don’t think this fear will ever leave me, but I refuse to let it control my life! I make a point of being the first one into the sea on holiday. I make it a point to walk down pontoons and go on boats. This fear will not define me. When I force myself into these situations, I feel panicky, hot, clammy, and want to run in the opposite direction, but I don’t. Only by facing these fears can I beat them. And when I’m back on dry land, the feeling of achievement by far outweighs the feeling of panic.

Do you have any phobias? How do you try to overcome them?

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Link to rules: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to O Is For Obsessions Of Mine: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/o-is-for-obsessions-of-mine.html

Religion, Fear And The Power Of The Mind 27th February 2015

I should start this post by saying I am an atheist. I believe in science - the big bang theory, evolution all of that stuff that is quantifiable and proven by people way more intelligent than I am.
That being said, this post isn't going to be about bashing religious people.
I have been thinking about why some people are religious and some aren't, especially in these times were science has ultimately proved that God can't exist in the literal sense (I refer here to the Christian God - I don't know enough about other religions to comment).
I think in part, faith comes from a need to explain the unknown. Centuries ago, people believed in a God who pulled the sun across the sky in a chariot, a God who made the seas move and a God who created thunder to mention a few. Over time, we learned how these things actually came about, and the belief in these Gods was no longer needed. Today, pretty much the only thing we can't explain is the meaning of our existence. It makes sense then for people to believe in this being who created us, gave us a home and loves us as his own. When science explains the meaning of life, there will be no more need for religion.
I think faith also stems from fear. Fear of our own mortality - I imagine dying doesn't seem so scary if you genuinely believe that you are going to a better place.
Looking at the Christian bible, I think it projects, for the most part, a moral code that is a good thing to live by. In my opinion, it was originally written as a way of controlling the masses - if you don't live this way you fear going to Hell. That being said, if everyone lived by the 10 commandments, I think the world would be a much nicer, safer place.
Sometimes I wish I could believe in it all. It would be nice to believe in a higher power, someone who would forgive mistakes and make everything ok again, but I just can't do it.
I think the power of the mind is an incredible thing that is often underrated. For example, if I prayed, I don't think it would work, because I don't believe it would. However, if someone who does believe prays, maybe it will. Not because I think God is listening and making it happen, but because the person believes it will work it just could. The power of positive thinking goes a long way.
I don't understand non religious people who think everyone should be the same. If you have faith and it makes you feel good, who are you hurting? By the same token, I can't stand religious people who try to "save my soul" by converting me. Let's all just agree to disagree!
Feel free to comment :)