Taking Action Despite Your Fears
The kinds of fears and anxieties people are experiencing today can leave one unsure what to do. Old routines are disrupted, and it can take time to create and become comfortable with new actions that can turn into routines. Before then you can feel uncertain, not knowing what to do or what actions are for the best. Thus, it can be easy to feel stymied and afraid to act because it might be the wrong action to take.
However, as these well-known commentators write, it is important to take some kind of action, and you can always change course later. But the point is to not treat your fears like a kind of quicksand that keeps you from doing something and moving forward whatever that is.
Following are a series of quotes from well-known individuals talking about taking action despite your fears and finding a source of strength and power in that action. These actions can help you overcome adversity and difficulties, too. The quotes are drawn from my book Over 100 Ways to Understand and Deal with Your Fear and Anxiety.
Taking Action Despite your Fears
“Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing.” Emma Donoghue, Irish-Canadian playwright, literary historian, novelist, and screenwriter. Author of Room, 1969-present.
“Courage is being scared to death…and saddling up anyway.” John Wayne, nicknamed “The Duke,” an American actor, filmmaker, and Academy Award-winner for the 1969 True Grit, 1907–1979.
“Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.” Eddie Rickenbacker, an American fighter ace in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient, 1890–1973.
“Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.” Omar N. Bradley, a senior officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, 1893–1981.
“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.” George S. Patton, general in the United States Army, 1885–1945.
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you’ll make one.” Elbert Hubbard, American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher, 1856–1915.
“Bravery does not mean being fearless. It means to be full of fear but still not being dominated by it.” Rajneesh, Indian mystic and leader of the Rajneesh movement, 1931–1990.
Gaining Strength, Confidence, and Power by Doing What You Fear
“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” Seth Godin, American author of 17 business success books, 1960-present.
“To uncover your true potential, you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.” Picabo Street, an American former World Cup alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist, 1971-present.
“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.” Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States, American political figure, diplomat, and activist, 1884–1962.
Overcoming Adversity and Difficulties
“We don’t develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” Barbara De Angelis, American relationship consultant, lecturer, and author, 1951-present.
“You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.” George MacDonald, Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister, 1824–1905.
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one” Bruce Lee, Hong Kong and American actor, film director, martial artist, and founder of Jeet Kune Do, 1940–1973.
“Great crisis produce great men and great deeds of courage.” John F Kennedy, an American politician and 35th President of the United States from 1961 until he was assassinated in November 1963, 1917–1963.
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.