Learn to Control Your Emotions by Riding Rollercoasters

Mason Lee Tompkins

My journey into bettering myself began in 7th grade, when I learned one simple fact about my own psychology:

I can control my own emotions.

I’m terrified of heights. When I look down and know that one wrong slip could leave me hitting the ground hard enough for real injury, my whole body shakes and and I become paralyzed.

Everything changed in 7th grade when I went with a whole group of friends to King’s Island, a theme park with some of the biggest rollercoasters I’ve ever ridden. I was avoiding riding anything too crazy while all my friends rode everything and had tons of fun. We came up to one ride which actually flips you over to ride superman-style at high speed, and there no was no way I was getting on. Our chaperone stopped and encouraged me, and told me:

“Of course it’s scary! But if you can set that aside and just get on anyways, it might be awesome.”

So I got on. Not because I suddenly had courage. I got on because of peer pressure and not wanting to look like a total wimp.

The first 5 seconds were completely nerve wracking as we ascended to the top of the first hill.

Then right as we inched over the top, I decided to let go. I’m definitely not falling out. Why not just surrender to the ride and let it take me around the track without thinking about how scared I am?

It was pure bliss, and to this day one of my favorite rides.

For the rest of that day, and for the next couple of summers I legitimately went to theme parks and got on rollercoasters with one intention in mind: This is how I practice being calm in the craziest of situations.

That was the seed of an idea that has come to define me and the way that I wish to approach the world. I will be calm and collected in the worst situations.

This helps me in business meetings, client pitches, presentations, and even used to help me when I would fight with my parents as a kid. Even when I’m being thrown around like a ragdoll, I’ve developed the skill of staying calm and collected.

You can control your own emotions. You can. I promise.

If you want to learn how, find something that lets you practice and play at the same time, just like I did with rollercoasters.

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masonleeme/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/masonleeme/support