I was before afraid of deep water. I couldn’t swim in the sea without wearing a lifejacket but I did great in the pool. I want to swim freely in the sea so I started to visualize myself swimming in the sea without a lifejacket on.

Whenever, I swam in the pool, I worked on visualization by seeing myself swim like a fish in the sea. I was not afraid. I swam as far as I could to see beautiful and colorful coral reefs. I saw myself without lifejacket on.

On my last trip to the island, I did as I visualized. I put on fins (I knew I was cheating but I felt secure with them.) I jumped into the sea with a lifejacket but I didn’t wear it. I swam dragging it along but not wearing it. After I got used to the water and fear started to fade away, I left the lifejact on the boat and swam near my cousin who wore lifejacket. Fear was still there floating after me but less. On the last spot that the boat rider dropped us, I tried not to hang on anyone but swam alone. I tried not to think about fear but focus on the fish and coral reefs. A while after I swam alone, I forgot about the fear and swam freely. The fear did not 100% disapprear but I have overcome one of my fears. I need to practice more both swimming and visualization.