scott stonehouse

Fear is not always a bad thing. In fact, it is sometimes a very good thing. There are things we should fear.

Like any other emotion, fear is telling us something. We should listen to it but we don’t have to agree with it.

This is why my goal has not been to eliminate fear from my life. Rather, my goal has been to develop courage: the ability to feel the fear and do it anyway.

I want to be courageous.

I want to be brave.

Don’t you?

Not only in a specific area, but in general. I want to be the type of person who can feel the fear and do it anyway.

How do we develop courage? By doing things that require courage. By doing things that scare us. It is as simple and as difficult as that.

Although there are millions of things that we can fear, there is one virtue of courage. Therefore, developing courage to face one fear helps you face other fears. That’s amazing!

What is something that you fear? What is one small example of that fear that you can face?

Let’s imagine it is public speaking, a common fear.

You could decide to ask a question in class or in a meeting at work.

Are you willing to try? You can do this. You really can. Take a deep breath. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Look for opportunities to do it again. And again. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Look for chances to do it with a little bigger example. That might mean bigger groups in which you ask a question or it could mean more than asking a question. You could give a brief presentation. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Continue to repeat, each time pushing a little further into the fear. Feel it. Do it anyway.

Eventually, you will believe:

That you are brave,

That you are courageous,

Because you will be.

Because you can feel the fear and do it anyway!