5/9/2020 Episode 45: Facing Your Fears | Greater Good

PODCAST | The Science of Happiness

Subscribe

SHARE

Episode 45: Facing Your Fears

AUGUST 01, 2019 | 16:39

Heights. Public speaking. Death. Our Happiness Guinea Pig explains how
she overcomes her fears, one small step at a time.

0:00 / 16:47

RELATED LINKS

Try this week's happiness practice: Overcoming A Fear.

Zoe Francesca

Transcript
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/facing_your_fears 1/2
5/9/2020 Episode 45: Facing Your Fears | Greater Good

ZOE FRANCESCA I had a client who’s in her 90s, such a delightful person, and she
loves going to the zoo. So we’re at the zoo, there was an old sky tram, and it looks like a
ski lift. It’s open. You know, you could fall out. However I’m looking at it, and I’m seeing
you know, it’s not that far off the ground. And look there’s babies and toddlers, there’s
grandparents with their grandchildren, and everyone looks so relaxed and happy. I
could go on this with my client, of course I could. So I turned to my client and let’s just
call her let’s call her, Mavis. I turn to Mavis and I say Mavis, “Would you like to go on
that sky tram?” and she says. “Oh yes! Oh yes!” I said, “Great. Let’s get on.” So I get her
out of the wheelchair and into the lift. And as soon as we touch off, this panic attack
sets in where I just all I can think about is, I’m going to fall out. She’s going to fall out.
We are literally over the lions, and giraffes, and all these animals and it’s supposed to be
so fun. But I am gripping—I’m sweating like crazy, I’m gripping the bar like crazy, and
curling up my toes and my eyes are so tightly shut. But I’m saying to her, “Oh this is so
nice. Isn’t this beautiful!?” And she’s saying, “Oh, yes! Look! Look!” And I cannot open
my eyes for the life of me.

And when we get to the halfway point, I call out to the person who’s there, “Okay, we’re
getting off. We’re getting off.” And they say, “No, stop! Stop!” And they’re waving their
“Y ’t b d t ff h ! It’ i ibl !” A d I id “W h t
Read More

Tracker Pixel for Entry

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/facing_your_fears 2/2