“Courage faces fear, and thereby masters it.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the greatest gifts that comes from being a coach is the opportunity to stand by my clients as they walk through some of their greatest fears. I’ve been witness to fears that are rational, irrational, historical, hysterical, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, to name a few, and I’ve been blessed to witness my clients as they move through their fears to the other side.

Clients will share how terrified they are to approach a person or deal with a specific issue, or how they lack the necessary courage to do what must be done. What I’ve seen from my unique vantage point is that they find their courage when they face their fears. They may be shaking – figuratively or literally – but they stand up to what they fear most and face their unknowns…and thereby move through and master their fear.

I think we’re somehow taught when we’re young that bravery or courage is something you either have or don’t have. “You’re so brave,” people say…and we think that somehow that means we must not be afraid. I’ve come to know that true courage often stems from fear – when we long to run the other way, when we’re shaking in our boots, when what we’re about to do or say rocks us to the core…and we do it anyway. That is mastering fear, and that is courage. That is successful.

Decide on the strongest action (or non-action) that will help you face your fear…and do it!

What are you afraid of? How can you face that fear and move through?
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