We often look at people who seem fearless and take risks and go after what they want as brave and courageous. As therapist Jonny Say said on episode 334 of the podcast, “if they aren’t scared, it’s not courage” (paraphrasing).

Courage is feeling afraid and doing it anyway. So don’t worry if you are afraid, you can be both afraid and courageous. But you can’t be courageous without fear. 

Here are some quotes on courage:

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” Mark Twain

“Without fear there cannot be courage” – Christopher Paolini 

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.”― Mary Anne Radmacher

What you already do, feeling the anxiety and other difficulty thoughts and feelings, is courageous. Keep moving in the direction of your values, even if fear is also there. 

Hope that helps. 

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