Learning to swim in the open water was tough for me, not just because of the strokes or technique, but because of a strange fear I had: the bottom of the ocean. The thought of the deep, blue water beneath me, full of unknown creatures and endless space, was somehow calming. The lava beneath me was a different story. I did not like the shallow water. Every time I got in, my mind would spiral into panic about the bottom. Strange, I know. I had grown up in and around the water. I could swim, just didn’t want to see the bottom.
I knew I had to find a way to get past this fear if I wanted compete in my first triathlon, which was in the open ocean in Hawaii. So, I tried something a bit unusual—strawberry waffles.
The Power of a Simple Visual
As I started each swim, I would close my eyes and picture a warm, delicious plate of strawberry waffles—light and fluffy, with bright red strawberries, whipped cream, and sweet syrup. It may sound silly, but this comforting image brought me instant calm. Instead of focusing on the bottom and the lava, my brain locked onto this familiar, cozy breakfast.
As strange as it sounds, visualizing strawberry waffles gave me something positive and happy to focus on. It grounded me and kept my fear at bay. I would even say it to the fish! They loved it. Really, they did!
Turning Fear Into Fun
The more I practiced this, the more effective it became. As soon as I stepped into the water, I’d think about waffles instead of the ocean floor, and suddenly the bottom felt less threatening. My mind was no longer swirling with panic; it was filled with images of syrup and strawberries.
With this quirky mental trick, I gradually overcame my fear of the bottom of the ocean. Swimming became enjoyable, and I could relax in the water without constantly worrying about what was below me.
Finding Your Own “Waffles”
Using something as simple as strawberry waffles to manage my fear was a game-changer. It reminded me that our brains are powerful, and sometimes the smallest, silliest visualizations can shift how we react to our fears. If you’re learning to swim—or tackling any fear—find something that brings you comfort or joy and use that to replace the anxiety.
For me, strawberry waffles turned a once anxiety filled experience into something I could embrace.
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