101 things about me

Wednesday 12 August 2009

How being fearless changed my life...

In 2006 I travelled to Sydney for what would be a life changing event. I arrived an arachnophobe and went home cured.

I attended Taronga Zoo's "fearless" program which is a 4 hour program that promised to cure my fear of spiders. It was incredible. I am a person who had spent years in fear of spiders, despite all logic and reason. When I found myself face to face with a huntsman and had to get a neighbour to remove it, I knew it was time to do something.

The Taronga program promised to cure me of my fear, and it was a total success. By the end of the day I was handling huntsmen in my bare hands and I even held a Chilean rose spider (a tarantula).

I have written about it before here and again here as I am so enthusiastic about the program, and so yesterday when I received an email saying they are running the program again, I decided to share it with you all once more. It was such an incredible life changing event I want everyone to consider it. It will change your life.

I used to be the girl who could not sit in a room if there was a huntsman sharing the same space. I once nearly threw myself out of a moving car when, as a teenager, a huntsman ran across my lap. The idea of going to bed with a spider in the house, let alone the same room was unbearable. Unthinkable even.

That was then, this is now.

Now I am free of the fear. I can collect any wayward spider up in a container and put it outside. I can go into the shed to collect wood for the fire without my heart rate increasing. And if there was one in the car, I wouldn't care. In fact, not long after I returned from Taronga Zoo I was driving my car and a huntsman ran up my windscreen and onto the roof. Not a problem. I arrived at my destination, I went on my date and I later returned to my car, found the spider, picked up a twig at the side of the road and flicked it off the car. No hesitation. No fear. No panic.

So if you want to be free of this fear that you know in your heart to be ridiculous, and you just didn't know how to do it... this is it. It probably sounds like an exaggeration, but it seriously changed my life.

Be brave. Make the call. Pay the money. Do the course. You won't regret it. And make sure you send me a link to your blog post when you get back. Because once you do it and you are free of your fear, you will want to shout it from the rooftops! Because if you can conquer fear, you can do anything you set your mind to!

Fearless At Taronga Info:
The cost is $250 per person, or $225 per person for bookings of 2 or more.
Spiders - Wednesday 28th October 2009, 9am – 1pm
Spiders - Thursday 29th October 2009, 9am – 1pm
And if you are scared of reptiles, they can help you too.
Reptiles - Friday 30th October 2009, 9am – 1pm

If you have any questions regarding the program contact Taronga Zoo Group Bookings on 02 9978 4782, or email fearless.information@gmail.com
Yes people - this is me! And THAT in my hand is a TARANTULA! If you look closely, I think it's smiling... just a little.

13 comments:

Umatji said...

Oh well done you! I am not one who has that phobia but am amazed at how overpowering it is for so many people. Good for you - I imagine it did change your life!

Louise Dalton said...

You look so happy and relaxed in that photo! It makes me want to do the course just to see if it would give such a lovely smile as yours!

Renee said...

Hello brave girl. You are fearless.

Love you.

Renee oxoxox

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

That is so cool. Good on you for being brave in the face of your fears.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

omg....you are so much braver than i!!!!

flossy-p said...

Holy Moley, that's incredible. Well done to you!

Red Hen (dette) said...

I've suggested this to my 16yo daughter. Her reply was "um.. NO!!!!"

Cakers said...

Wow. I am seriously impressed. Congratulations to you...I'm having a hard time just LOOKING at that bugger. :-)

kate said...

oh my god, that gives me shivers just looking at that picture! i'm not even particularly scared of spiders... but still!!

good on you!! you are so brave :)

lindsey clare said...

hi Jacinta. I did the Fearless course yesterday, and I was just googling it to see what was around online about it, and I found this. I could relate to so much of what you've written, although as it was only yesterday I think i'm still processing everything that happened! I too held Rosie and it was a life changing experience!

Did you find that you had any fear at all afterwards? I am a little bit worried that my fears will come back again.

Jacinta said...

Hi Lindsey
A few people said that to me about it 'wearing off' and me going back to my original fear. And it did worry me a little. So far so good.
I have only come across a few bigger spiders since and have dealt with them quite calmly. Even if they make my heart race a little, I can relax using the techniques they taught us and I really am not scared any more in any case.
Good luck. If you are anything like me, it made me feel quite free. Isn't Rosie amazing! Do you believe you really held her. That's something you will never forget! Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Thats such an inspiring story! I have an extreme phobia of them which has led me to sign up to 29th April Fearless program. I'm feeling a little hesitant and not quiet sure that my phobia (extreme) will be cured. I'm desperate that it will work! Would you have any suggestions/ ideas that may be useful as I undertake/ enter the program? Can't wait to be freed of this debilitation condition. I truly hope I may also be able to handle a spider like you have. Here's hoping for a positive report back in a few weeks.

Jacinta said...

To the last commenter... sorry I didn't respond. Hope the course went well. I would love to hear about it. I have no doubt it will have changed your life.
Cheers!