Doing something new takes courage. Confronting an issue in your life takes courage. Taking action in the face of fear always takes courage.
Every. Single. Time.
Where is fear holding you back? Let me encourage you to take action. You can do it. With just one step you can change your life.
You can take the action you need to take. You can be courageous.
I’ve done it and I’ll show you how.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. Mark Twain
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. Walt Disney Click To Tweet
OPPORTUNITY
I got an email with an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before. New opportunities are both exciting and scary.
The email invited me to register for a local authors book sale and signing event. It’s at an annual summer festival, called Sterlingfest, so there will be a ton of people. I have a large introvert streak and sometimes have trouble in crowds.
Fear said you have no idea what you’d be getting yourself into.
Courage said that’s ok, you’ll learn.
I didn’t let myself think it over. There was fear in the thinking. I prayed and asked God for direction. But still, I had a choice to make.
The choice to let this opportunity pass or take action.
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. Andre Gide
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. Andre Gide Click To Tweet
DECISIONS
I heard courage and boldness telling me it was time to take the opportunity. I decided to listen to courage believing God would give me the grace I needed. I made the phone call reserving a table for myself and my books.
It was only a phone call and only one step.
But it was a start and I’ve learned starting is key.
For example, it’s how I started writing my first book. I decided and just—started*. Fear spoke back then too, but so did courage.
Fear said you have no idea what you’re doing.
Courage said that’s ok, you’ll learn. This needs to be done.
Fear was right. I didn’t know what I was doing.
But courage was right also—I learned along the way. I succeeded. I started and I finished. I wrote that first book and published it—by taking courage and action one step at a time. Now I have 2 books published, offer one free here and am a contributor to another that held the bestseller position for a while.
We learn and grow by starts. By taking a single step with knees knocking, fingers shaking and taking action anyway in the face of the fear.
Do it afraid and let courage win.
Courage is grace under pressure. Ernest Hemingway
Do it afraid and let courage win. Click To Tweet
PLANNING
Plans are good but fear can turn planning into quicksand. Without taking action plans are useless.
Imagine going on a road trip with just a plan.
You’ve got your GPS all loaded up with all the places you want to go. You collected brochures of places and activities. Your bags are all packed and loaded in the car. You’re all ready to go so you hop in your car but you just sit there.
What’s wrong? You can’t go anywhere without starting the engine.
Preparation is useless without action.
Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. ~ Peter Marshall
Preparation is useless without action. Click To Tweet
NO PERFECT WAY
There’s no perfect way to get from A to B. The only way is to move. Decide to take action. Pack up courage and boldness and go.
What if you do it wrong? You can learn.
What if it’s a mistake? You can learn.
Mistakes happen. We’re human. Sitting doing nothing might be your mistake.
Mistakes are the portals of discovery. James Joyce
Learn. Adjust as you go.
Like a road trip. Stop for directions as you need them. Trust the process. Do what you know, keep learning and then apply. This is how we grow. Having a growth mindset brings new possibilities into our lives.
New growth is greener than old. It sticks out. It’s brighter. It shines.
Be bold – take action, grow and shine.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. Walt Disney
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. Mark Twain Click To Tweet
NEXT STEP
- Where do you need to take action? Opportunity? Confrontation? Share in the comments and let us encourage you.
- Share where you have taken action and encourage someone else.
- *Want to write your story? Read my article on what gave me the courage to write. HERE
- Come and see me at the Book Signing Event in front of the Sterling Heights library July 28th, 2018 10am-4pm.
- Are you an aspiring writer wanting to take the next step? Come to Tribe Conference 2018 info & tickets here (I’ll be there!)
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Danielle, I’m so glad you went for it..You’re a real trailblazer for many. And you set the bar for us…Isn’t it powerful when you put all of your faith in God. It gives you the added strength and courage you need.
Thank you, KD!
Indeed, God is my strength and source of courage.
I’m getting more excited as it gets closer and I work on preparations.
thanks for your encouragement!
Hi. Thank you for sharing your writings. They are encouraging to read. We definitely need to let courage win and allow Holy Spirit to propel us forward to take action by Faith. Perfect love casts out all fear!
You are very welcome, Kim. I’m so glad you’re encouraged by my words.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your heart! I appreciate your words!
This is a great post and show of your own courage!
Thank you so much, Jack!
I think that’s great that you went for it. I hope it will encourage you to continue to face your fears and do things anyway.
Thank you, Anne. I know I’ve gotten more excited as I prepare for it. Every part of preparation has been a new thing and a new fear to take courage for.
Thanks for sharing!
Danielle,
Yes! Just start.
With the fear. Keep. Going.
Yes, with the fear.
It gets better.
Thank you, Danie.
Great encouraging post! Loved the line: “fear can turn planning into quicksand.“ Truth & very thought provoking! So glad to be learning my way through life too💞
Thank you, namesstemomma.
Thanks for sharing your favorite line too. I love to know what impacts my readers. It helps me grow. Think I’ll make a meme with it!
What a inspiring and encouraging story of doing it afraid, finding the courage to just take that first step in faith!
When we feel the fear and do it anyway… amazing things happen.
Thank you, Cori. I appreciate your encouragement as well!
Yes, amazing things. Thank you for sharing!
It is shameful to tell, but I am a coward. I don’t like to brag, but I am a really good person. I know you are a stranger, and this is a public place, but I am a psychopath. What I am trying to tell you is Courage has always been a goal I can’t resist. Every time I fear, my hands and legs tremble inside. I hope nobody else sees it. LIke you said for so long, you are either fearless, and brave or a coward, and scared, then i realised through some strange ways that no better time to be brave that when you are a scared coward. Thanks for this awesome post, I hope you crush that book signing event!
Thank you for sharing your heart, Jay. That took some courage.
And thank you for the well wishes for my event too.