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In order to begin to reduce your fear of flying you must understand something about your body and the mechanisms that cause your fear. First let's get a clear picture of what you can control in yourself and what you cannot control by doing the exercise in the illustrations. It is important to note here that the "self control" you have in raising your arm is something you do not feel you have when you feel the fear associated with flying. I will explain that shortly.
For now, let's move on to the next part of the exercise which is illustrated below. After checking your pulse, and without moving, raise your heart rate by 25 beats per minute in the same manner in which you moved your arm! Don't get fancy by trying to imagine something scary (like flying on an airplane!). I'm saying do it just like you did it with your arm. The truth is, you can't do that and no one else can either.
The lack of direct control you have over your heart rate is precisely the same lack of direct control you have over your emotions (see next illustration). Since your emotions and your muscles are controlled by two separate parts of your nervous system, it is important to understand how each works separately as well as in relationship to each other. The illustration below describes both parts of the nervous system in a clear and easily memorized diagram. After you understand this part, it will be time to move to Lesson Number Two.
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