I recently heard a line that stayed with me:

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” 

I am drawn to the thought behind it, that courage and fear can exist at the same time. In fact, some of the most courageous things we do begin with fear.

Having the conversation we’ve been avoiding. Speaking up when it would be easier to stay quiet. Leaving something familiar. Starting something new. Admitting we don’t know. Making a decision without having every answer or knowing the outcome in advance.

As an entrepreneur, I know this feeling well. When you’re building a business, uncertainty comes with the territory. You make decisions with incomplete information. You put ideas into the world without knowing exactly how they’ll be received. You carry responsibility for people, money, clients and a vision that, sometimes, only you can fully see.

And you don’t need to be an entrepreneur to recognize that feeling.

Fear shows up whenever something matters.

The question is what do we do when ...