Learning to Fly

At the age of 9 through string of coincidences (as it usually goes) I took a flight above Banja Luka in Bosnia in a small jet plane Cesna used for pilot flight training but temporarily serving as a sightseeing tool. Although I have been on the plane before I have never experienced being in a cockpit. The feeling of excitement and slight doze of fear overwhelmed me: after all, the seats were not cozy jumbo jet ones, we were not in the economy class, far away from the first but views were spectacular and seeing all the gadgets in front of me was experience worth to remember. Pilot was kind to let me know what each instrument was for, what I could and couldn’t touch and after enjoying the bird view with few circles above the ground he suddenly asked me if I was interested to try and control the machine. Ultimate surprise and disbelief didn’t last long since I quickly thought that an opportunity like that can’t be easily released. I believe I blushed and spoke faintly into the microphone attached to the headphones trying to outspeak the noise of the engine: “Can I? What do I need to do?”He pointed at the joystick-like controller in front of his seat and as he moved it to the left or right, up or down the jet obediently followed to the same direction. “See, it’s easy, move it to the direction you want to go.” The same controller was in front of my seat too so I took it glad the noise was killing my internal dialogue. I was truly afraid of the responsibility at the first but happy to see that pilot was not letting go of his commands – we were on for the ride together! And on we went for another circle above beautiful Banja Luka, the day was clear and amazing panoramic views opened up while I wished my mental camera was on recording it for life (and it did!). While I was relaxing from my fear of pretending to fly the plane (after all I was only nine!) the pilot looked me and said: “Now do it on your own.” My goodness, I remember when I was learning to ride a bicycle, similar thing happened but the outcome was not so nice – bruised knees and hurt pride after I realized my father let go of my seat was not what I wanted to go through again knowing that there would be more than just bruised knees! This time (again) I didn’t have time to negotiate, the pilot sat back in his seat, let go of the commands and suggested me to go left or right when I was ready. I was flying the plane! And it was easy, just holding it straight, maybe even boring for a while because I didn’t have a clue where I was going and apart from the knowledge that I was eventually going to get to the ground I was clueless of what I wanted to do, how to make the flight more interesting. It all seemed easy when he was doing it but once I was holding the joystick one sudden move to the right made the whole jet gasp with power and followed my command instantly. Even the pilot shouted: “Take it easy!!!” while I apologetically regained my leadership and learned how to easily move with just few gently touches. I learned to fly. Flying towards your goalsDid you know that small jet planes are off the course 90% of time? Pilot uses the inertial guidance system as the reference for ‘missed direction’ which still enables the flight to arrive on time. I first learned about this reading Susan Jefferson’s Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway where she talks about Stewart Emery’s model for changing direction in life: “So the path from here to where we want to be starts with an error, which we correct, which becomes the next error, which we correct and that becomes the next error, which we correct. So the only time we are truly on course is that moment in the zigzag when we actually cross the true path.”Consider using your emotions as the inertial guidance system when moving toward your goals. If you are experiencing any negative emotions (apathy, grief, fear, lust, anger or pride) stop and ask yourself “What is this situation telling me? What can I do differently to enable myself to pass this stage? What are my strengths and how can I utilize them the best in this situation?” Using the simple technique of releasing can help you go through these stages quickly and jump into the positive emotional realm of courageousness, acceptance and peace.Enjoy the journey and may peace be with youQuestions to ponder:When was the last time you did something for the first time?What are your long and short-term goals? Visualize yourself as you achieved these goals. What do you see, how do you feel about achieving them?LinksVIA Signature Strengths Questionnairehttp://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Release techniquehttp://www.releasetechnique.com/Books Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Susan JeffersCopyright 2007 Dalida TurkovicDalida Turkovic - Master Coach and Master NLP Practitioner has lived and worked in China since 1990. Please visit her business coaching website Small Steps Coaching and her blog at Life Coaching – First Steps.