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