Jaws in My Mind – How a Shark That Wasn’t There Still Shaped Me

🎧 Episode Title:

Jaws in My Mind – How a Shark That Wasn’t There Still Shaped Me

📝 Episode Summary:

Fifty years ago, I saw Jaws for the first time. I was 13. I lived in a small town in western Pennsylvania—nowhere near an ocean. And I had no idea what I was walking into.

My youth pastor took me to see it (yes, just me and him), and even though the shark was mechanical and malfunctioned half the time, it scared the life out of me. And apparently… it stuck.

In this episode, I reflect on how that movie planted a fear that followed me for decades—even after I finally moved near the ocean. Even now, living 15 minutes from Rehoboth Beach, I catch myself scanning the water for fins like I’m on lifeguard duty.

But this isn’t just about Jaws. It’s about the power of a story—especially one we believe when we’re young—to write a program in our minds that keeps running long after the threat is gone. Long after we know better.

Whether it’s a childhood fear, an old lie we picked up, or something we were told that felt true at the time... those beliefs can live in us for years if we don’t go back and question them.

And the good news is: Even after 50 years, we can.

💬 In This Episode:

• The full (and funny) story of how I saw Jaws at 13
• Why the fear stuck with me for decades—even though I lived nowhere near water
• What happened when I finally moved near the ocean
• How watching the 50th anniversary documentary still made me nervous
• The deeper metaphor: how imagined fears can shape our choices
• How to recognize and rewrite those old “shark” stories in your own mind

🔑 Key Takeaway:

The most powerful fears aren’t always based in fact. They’re the ones we believed when we were most impressionable. But even if they’ve been with us for years—we can let them go. We can swim free.

🙋‍♂️ A Question for You:

What’s your Jaws?

What story from your past—true or not—is still shaping how you move through the world? And what would happen if you stopped playing it?

🔗 Connect with Me:

If this episode hit home for you, I’d love to hear about it. You can find more episodes and connect at: www.realwithoutreligion.com