A lot of that has to do with your perception. Part of living a symbolic life is about reflecting upon events and looking at deeper meanings for inspiration and enlightenment. When you begin to see that creatures that are typically frowned upon (like rats, spiders, etc) have a purpose in the great scheme of life – that gives you the power to appreciate rather than fear them. Seeing the potential beauty of so-called pests is half the battle of assuaging fear of them.