There’s a quiet kind of courage that often goes unnoticed. It’s not the grand, heroic leap or a dramatic act; it’s the steady, focused choice to set fear aside just long enough to do what needs to be done. Fear doesn’t vanish in those moments. It’s still there, lingering. But somehow, we managed to move through it.
Years ago, a friend shared a story that’s stuck with me. Her husband had a serious medical emergency and needed help. At that moment, everything in her life was upended, but she didn’t freeze or hesitate. She called 911, calmly reassured their young children, gave the EMTs a rundown of his medications, ensured the children were looked after, followed the ambulance to the hospital, and made sure he got the care he needed. It wasn’t until he was in surgery, and she had a moment alone that the weight of it all hit her. That’s when she broke down.
I think about that story often because it captures the heart of what it means to be brave in real life. She didn’t push fear away forever; she simply moved it to the side so she could show up, steady and clear, when it mattered most. That’s the kind of courage we see in everyday life, in business, in family, in friendships.
Fear is a natural part of being human. It’s meant to protect us but can be limiting. In our work lives, it shows up in countless ways. It’s there in the moment before we speak up in a meeting with a different perspective or when we’re considering whether to pursue a new opportunity that stretches our skills. It appears when we need to have a difficult conversation with a colleague or client. Each time, fear whispers that we’re not ready, that it’s not the right time, that we might fail or disappoint someone. But most meaningful growth, both personally and professionally, lives just beyond that moment of hesitation.
I experienced this many years ago when I was preparing for a presentation to senior leadership. The stakes felt impossibly high, and my inner critic was working overtime. Rather than trying to banish my fear completely, I acknowledged it and then tried to set it aside to focus on the preparation. The fear was still there during the presentation, but it no longer controlled the moment. Afterward, I realized this approach, making room for both fear and action, had allowed me to be more authentic and connected with my audience than any attempt at fearlessness would have. And most importantly, it allowed me to move forward.
When we learn to recognize fear and still take action, something powerful happens. We build resilience. We learn we’re capable. And we discover that moving forward, even imperfectly, often brings clarity and confidence we couldn’t have found by staying still.
So, how do we practice this skill of setting fear aside without dismissing it?
Taking just one small step, rather than tackling everything at once, creates momentum. And remembering past moments when we’ve worked through fear reminds us that we’ve done this before and can do it again.
We’re not meant to be fearless. That’s not the goal. But we can be brave in small, steady ways. And every time we are, we remind ourselves, and others, that we don’t have to wait until we feel completely ready. Sometimes, setting fear aside for just a moment is all it takes to get through something hard.
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” ― Mark Twain
If that speaks to you, I’d love to hear about a moment when you did just that, when you acknowledged your fear but didn’t let it have the final say. Or perhaps share this with someone who might need the reminder today that courage isn’t about feeling no fear, it’s about making room for both fear and action in the same moment.
Have a fearless weekend.
Vijay