Do you pray or make the sign of the cross before takeoff, even though you don't do this before getting in a car or train?
You might think this is just being cautious. Or spiritual. But here's what's actually happening:
You're telling your brain: "This situation is uniquely dangerous. I need divine intervention to survive."
Your amygdala receives the message: "Even I think this is life-threatening. The fear is justified."
The ritual reinforces the belief that flying requires supernatural protection.
If you pray regularly in all aspects of life, that's different. That's your spiritual practice.
But if you ONLY pray before flying, you're creating a "safety behavior" that strengthens your fear.
What to do instead? If you feel the urge to pray, acknowledge it. Then ask yourself: "Would I do this before driving to the grocery store?"
If the answer is no, then you're not praying from faith. You're praying from fear.
And every time you do it, you're teaching your brain that flying is the exception. The danger. The thing that needs special protection.
Treat flying like any other form of transport. That's how you break the pattern.
