Sometimes I’m afraid of my own courage.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had dreams so big I couldn’t see the other side of them. And if I knew exactly how to make them happen, they wouldn’t have been dreams at all — they would have been plans.
Fear has been one of the best things that ever happened to me.
Most of us — myself included — try to avoid fear whenever possible. We make our lives safe, predictable, padded. Because fear feels terrible. But without it, we don’t learn. We don’t grow. We don’t become who we were meant to be.
Fear Is the Line Between the Life You Have and the Life You Want
Fear has two jobs:
- It keeps you alive.
- It shows you where life is waiting for you.
For most of human history, life was dangerous. Those who didn’t feel fear didn’t last long. It kept us alert, listening, and aware.
The truth most people don’t want to hear: you can feel fear and still move forward. Often, the awareness fear brings makes you sharper, more alive, more present.
Tribal cultures have always known this. Many have rites of passage where the young face their deepest fears before becoming adults. Not because danger is fun, but because meeting it without running earns you your own respect.
Today, we live with fewer real threats — but our bodies still scan for danger. If they can’t find it, they create it. They turn discomfort into catastrophe. And so we avoid situations that are merely uncomfortable as if they could kill us.
I’m Afraid Almost Every Time Before My Life Gets Better
Because much of our fear is constructed, facing it helps.
It’s often not danger holding us back — it’s change and the unknown. Overcome that, and you’ll find new possibilities on the other side.
That’s why I climb the mast of my boat from time to time — even though I’m afraid of heights. Safety gear on, heart racing, hands shaking. I do it to teach my body: You can feel this and still keep going.
That practice makes it easier for me to make a bold proposal or a big life decision — because I’ve trained myself to lean into fear knowing that things will change for the better once I’m on the other side.
Your Turn
We have less than half of 2025 left.
Ask yourself:
- How could you completely mess up the rest of the year?
- What would you do if you had no fear?
Answer honestly. Share it in the comments or send me a message if you like.
Every time I’ve leaned into fear, my life has changed for the better. How about you?
