Having Courage to Conquer Your Fears
Today, the coronavirus has become the focus of everyone’s fears and anxiety. But the same kind of techniques for dealing with these fears are the same kinds of approaches to apply to other fears, whether these are fears about finding a good job or relationship or overcoming obstacles you encounter on the way to become successful.
One of the keys to dealing with any fear is to have courage in order to conquer or overcome it. Such courage enables you to resist and master fear, even if you are initially fearful.
Following are a series of quotes from well-known individuals talking about the importance of having courage in the face of fear. The quotes are drawn from my book Over 100 Ways to Understand and Deal with Your Fear and Anxiety.
Being Courageous and Unafraid
“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”
Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, 1884–1972.
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
Anais Nin, French-American diarist, essayist, novelist, 1903–1977.
“The first and great commandment is: Don’t let them scare you.”
Elmer Davis, news reporter, author, and the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II, 1890–1958.
“Without fear there cannot be courage.”
Christopher Paolini, American writer. Author of Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance, 1983-present.
“None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear.”
Bertrand Russell, British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic, political activist, and Nobel laureate, 1872–1970.
“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”
Frederick Buechner, American writer, novelist, poet, preacher, and essayist.
“Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.”
Dorothy Thompson, American journalist and radio broadcaster, 1893–1961.
“Fear has its use but cowardice has none.”
Mahatma Gandhi, Indian activist and leader of the Indian independence movement, 1869–1948.
Resisting and Overcoming Fear
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”
Mark Twain, pen name for Samuel Langhorne Clemens. American writer and humorist known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
1835–1910.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa, anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader, 1918–2013.
“Use your fear… it can take you to the place where you store your courage.
Amelia Earhart, American aviation pioneer and author. First female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, 1897–1939.
“Kill the snake of doubt in your soul, crush the worms of fear in your heart and mountains will move out of your way.”
Kate Seredy, Hungarian writer and illustrator of children’s books. 1899–1975.
Try writing down your thoughts as you read each quote and think how you might apply that in your life.
GINI GRAHAM SCOTT, Ph.D., J.D., is a nationally known writer, consultant, speaker, and seminar leader, specializing in business and work relationships, professional and personal development, social trends, and popular culture. She has published 50 books with major publishers. She has worked with dozens of clients on memoirs, self-help, popular business books, and film scripts. Writing samples are at www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com.
She is the founder of Changemakers Publishing, featuring books on work, business, psychology, social trends, and self-help. The company has published over 150 print, e-books, and audiobooks. She has received national media exposure for her books, including appearances on Good Morning America, Oprah, and CNN.
Scott is active in a number of community and business groups, including the Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek Chambers of Commerce. She does workshops and seminars on the topics of her books.
She is also the writer and executive producer of 10 films in distribution, release, or production. Her most recent films that have been released include Driver, The New Age of Aging, and Infidelity.
She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco Law School. She has received five MAs at Cal State University, East Bay, most recently in Communication.