Do the thing you fear the most and the death of fear is certain. ~ Mark Twain
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST FEAR OR PHOBIA THAT PEOPLE HAVE?
"In my experience, what I've discovered, the biggest fear that most people have is acrophobia (fear of heights). Almost all human beings are born with acrophobia. Some overcome it, some maintain the fear but face it, such as myself. I'm a climbing instructor. I like heights BECAUSE they scare me. It keeps me on my toes. I like that feeling. Other people don't like heights at all and other people are just not phased. But most people are born with that."
SO THAT'S THE THRILL FOR YOU? BEING ABLE TO OVERCOME THAT?
That's what makes it good work- work that keeps you on your toes. For instance, if I'm doing my job right, I'm staying safe. Here (at his retail job) I can do my job poorly, and still be safe.
*Our curiosity was piqued by the claim of almost all humans being born with acrophobia, so a little research was done to find out if that was true. Turns out that there have been studies and experiments conducted which show that infants and young children are naturally cautious around heights, suggesting that people are born with a dislike or trepidation about heights. However, despite being nervous or even somewhat fearful around heights, they don't have an actual phobia, which is defined by Webster's as an extreme or irrational fear or aversion to something. Many scientists believe that a phobia of this type is a learned response to either a parent's fear of heights or a traumatic experience in childhood, like a fall. So, yes most people are born with a natural fear of heights, which is typically overcome, but not all of these people are born with acrophobia.*
** Join the conversation. Do you have any phobias? What is the strangest phobia you have ever heard of? **
