“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face,” said Eleanor Roosevelt. “... You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”
For years, Eleanor’s words have bolstered me. They changed my life because I acted on them. When faced with doing a few somethings that scared me, I carried them out even while I was still frightened.
Emmet Fox says it this way: “Do it trembling if you must, but do it.”
What about you? Think back: When did you stare down fear and do that thing you thought you could not do?
And then, climb up to the next step. What can your kids, grandkids, and other readers learn from you about taking a wild-eyed, white-knuckled leap of faith?
Dread can hinder potential and keep people from living a full life. What stories can you write about staring down cowardice, worry, and anxiety?
What stories can you write about refusing to let fear cripple you? Paralyze you?
Read the quotes below, s l o w l y. What stories do they revive? Take as much time as you need to rediscover them. They might be experiences you forgot years ago.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” (Nelson Mandela)
“The jump is so frightening between where I am and where I want to be… because of all I may become I will close my eyes and leap!” Mary Anne Radmacher, Live with Intention
“True faith, by a mighty effort of the will, fixes its gaze on our Divine Helper, and there finds it possible and wise to lose its fears. It is madness to say, ‘I will not be afraid’; it is wisdom and peace to say, ‘I will trust and not be afraid.’” Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910)
“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Karl Barth
“…Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will go with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
What courageous act have you carried out? Maybe only you know that story. Or perhaps others watched. What did you experience while overcoming your fright? Did it help you choose bravery in the future? Did it help you mature? Did it open up new opportunities, jobs, or relationships for you?
On the other hand, maybe you recall a time when you let fear get the better of you, a time when you chose not to take a leap of faith. How did that impact your future?
What Bible verses pertain to your story?
How did God help you deal with your anxiety? As a result, how did your relationship with Him change?
Turn your experiences into life lessons
for kids, grandkids, future generations,
and all your readers.
Be intentional about writing your stories.
Think about those who will read your memoir—
your offspring, nieces and nephews,
great-grandkids, friends, colleagues, and even strangers.
They all will face times that scare them.
Their courage and faith will wobble.
And your story could serve as a lifeline
and make all the difference in the outcome.
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