Overcoming Fear 5-7
Overcoming Fear 5-7
5. Learn how to take control of the tension and fear in your body. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and clearing the mind of unnecessary thoughts, outside of the ocean. Take yoga classes, meditation classes, or other such experiences that give you an ability to relax your body when needed. Then practice those techniques in the ocean. If you wipe out on a wave, learn to not fight it but rather let it take you where it will take you without using precious oxygen in your muscles by trying to swim out of it.
6. Rely on the presence of others to both motivate you and to provide reassurance that they will assist in times of trouble. The mere thought of having other experienced colleagues being with you in challenging conditions may give you confidence that you are not alone in times of trouble. Having others around also creates an energy and excitement that may fuel you to take acceptable risks that you may not otherwise take alone.
7. Embrace the opportunity to develop a set of skills that allow you to survive in more challenging environments. Increase your knowledge of the ocean and build a healthy balance of confidence and humility that allow you to, over time, find comfort in larger surf while maintaining a healthy respect for its power. If you can’t do that, you don’t belong in such conditions in the first place.