“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure… As we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
— Nelson Mandela
We’ve all felt it—that whisper of fear that says, “Maybe I’m not ready,” “What if I fail?” or simply, “I can’t.” I know I have. But what I’ve learned is this: courage is not the absence of fear—it’s taking action in spite of it.
The Moment I Said Yes to Change
Years ago, I sat quietly in the back row of a Toastmasters meeting—hands cold, heart pounding, silently praying no one would call on me. I watched others speak with confidence, humor, even grace, and I remember thinking, “I could never do that.” I was the one with the shaky voice and more filler words than sentences. They even lovingly dubbed me the “Ah-Um Queen.”
But something shifted that night. As I listened to speaker after speaker push through their fears and own the stage, a small voice inside me whispered:
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” — Albert Einstein
That quote hit me like a jolt of truth. I realized I had spent years waiting for fear to leave before taking action. But what if fear wasn’t the enemy—what if it was the signpost?
Another favorite quote echoed in my mind:
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but taking action in spite of it.” – T. Harv Eker
That was it. My moment. I walked up to the membership table, fear and all, and signed up.
And that one decision opened doors I never imagined.
It didn’t erase the fear—but it redefined my relationship with it. And it’s one of the bravest decisions I’ve ever made.
Life Has Its Own Plans
Just when I thought I was getting comfortable again, life tossed us into a whirlwind. Within six months, my family and I had to relocate—not once, but twice. First, we moved from Texas to Chicago for work. Then, just as we started settling in and my kids adjusted to new schools, we had to uproot again to North Carolina.
It was overwhelming. I felt like I was failing to give my children the stability they deserved. I was juggling moving boxes, school transfers, work stress, and the weight of feeling ungrounded myself.
But slowly, I began to see the gifts hiding in the chaos.
Instead of asking “Why me?”, I started asking, “What is this trying to teach me?”
That simple shift changed everything. I remembered Martin Luther King Jr.’s words:
“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort, but where they stand at times of challenge.”
And I clung to the faith-filled wisdom of Joel Osteen:
“Sometimes you will not understand God’s plan for you… but trust that you’re being led to your place of blessing.”
Eventually, life brought us back to Texas—our heart’s home. And I realized, sometimes the detours are not delays… they’re divine redirections.
Lessons I Carry Forward
In those seasons of discomfort and growth, I found a few practices that became my anchors:
🔹 Visualize Your Best Self
See yourself as the version of you who already has what you’re dreaming of. Let that image guide your decisions, posture, and energy.
🔹 Talk Kindly to Yourself
We often speak to ourselves in ways we’d never speak to a friend. Practice affirmations like:
“I am capable.”
“I am growing.”
“I’ve done hard things before—I can do this too.”
🔹 Act Quickly on Inspiration
When an idea or opportunity nudges you, follow it. Even a small step can set big things in motion. The faster you act, the more confident you become.
🔹 Keep Moving—Even When It’s Hard
Every time I wanted to give up, a quiet voice inside told me, “Just take the next step.” And almost every time, something beautiful came around the corner to support me.
In Closing
Fear doesn’t always go away. But neither does your strength.
Feel the fear—and move forward anyway.
Your light is meant to shine. And every time you show up for yourself, you light the way for someone else.
“Courage isn’t about having no fear. It’s about choosing growth anyway.”
— Bindu Chintha
