"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." -- Georgia O'Keeffe
I used to think that successful people weren't scared, that they had special reserves of fire I didn't have. I believed they achieved greatness because they were far braver than I. For I couldn't imagine speaking to audiences without passing out, or giving interviews without garbling my words. So I watched them enviously, wondering how they were so blessed with courage and why wasn't I? Then I met a few and found out I was wrong. These people weren't without fear, they simply didn't let it stop them, which, of course, is very the definition of courage: to be scared and not let it stop you.
Courage, I believe, is the most important trait when it comes to living a full and glorious life. Without it, you can have more talent and tenacity than anyone in the world but it won't matter. It takes courage (for most of us, at least) to sit down and write -- to believe that what we want to tell is worth telling. It takes courage to connect, to tell people your dreams and show them your skills. And from that comes all sorts of life-changing things.
It takes courage to keep going, to suffer all the inevitable setbacks,! rejections and disappointments and not give up. Talent, self-belief and tenacity matters not a jot without it. It takes courage to persist despite all the disappointments that have worn down your spirits. Sometimes, it takes courage just to get out of bed in the morning! Remember this and praise yourself. You have courage, even if you don't believe it. If you are really living, instead of merely surviving, then you are brave!