Contrary to Popular Beliefs, “Courage is … Not Absence of Fear” – Step 9

Mark Twain looking out a window w/ sfz title

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“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not the absence of fear.” – Mark Twain (1835 – 1910) U.S., satirist/novelist

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IT’S OK TO BE AFRAID – “Of course, we should never avoid making amends in person only because we are afraid of facing the person we have harmed. We make every effort to find the people we have harmed and make the best amends we can make.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 64)

My Worst Fear – Rascal Flats (4:06)

Attaining a State of Fearlessness – Kriyayoga (5:32)

Freedom from Fear Hypnotic Meditation LP (39:26)

When have you had difficulty mustering up courage, lately?

Courage

by Claude McKay

O lonely heart so timid of approach,
Like the shy tropic flower that shuts its lips
To the faint touch of tender fingertips:
What is your word? What question would you broach?

Your lustrous-warm eyes are too sadly kind
To mask the meaning of your dreamy tale,
Your guarded life too exquisitely frail
Against the daggers of my warring mind.

There is no part of the unyielding earth,
Even bare rocks where the eagles build their nest,
Will give us undisturbed and friendly rest.
No dewfall softens this vast belt of dearth.

But in the socket-chiseled teeth of strife,
That gleam in serried files in all the lands,
We may join hungry, understanding hands,
And drink our share of ardent love and life.

Comments

7 responses to “Contrary to Popular Beliefs, “Courage is … Not Absence of Fear” – Step 9”

December 10, 2025

Lotus (Elexi W.S.A.)

I like to think I’m pretty courageous, without any fears. Nasty insects, psychotic behavior, and relapse into a mind set I don’t prefer definitely almost remind me of a fear. We can overcome anything as time moves forward I believe, and that’s better than always progressing into a death state of mind. When I travel around like I like to do it does take a great amount of courage to accomplish any of that. Sometimes not believing I can achieve something all the way can remind me of having a lack of courage. Wholeheartedly I have to believe that I can achieve whatever I want to achieve, and not allow setbacks to take me under. Sometimes it seems the world is against me(moi), and at that point my courage can be tested like hopes. No matter what, I’m going to keep my courageousness that I have, and never let it go. I have some courageous testing, for instance in travelling to South East Asia. I will be travelling there as someone of Asian – Pacific background too, so my ideals may be different than the regular American tourist travelling there, and I may even want more authentication than the usual.

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December 10, 2025

Sabrina J

The times when courage is challenged for me is I don’t want to be in a confrontational situation, especially with someone I care about. The challenge is that leads to enabling behaviors. It is okay to express myself about the responsibility we all share that when out of balance, can lead to resentments. When I do not respect my own boundaries, why would anyone else. Courage to speak my truth does not have to be aggressive, it should however be assertive so that no one feels disrespected, boundaries are respected and bad behavior is not enabled.

Thank you for sharing recovery with me. Grateful.

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December 10, 2025

E-Dawg

Sometimes it’s hard for me to muster up the courage to share about my faith in Jesus to people. Not only have I been rejected but I’ve been laughed at and told how silly it is for me to believe in a fairy tale. When I went into a room all alone and I asked God to reveal himself to me cuz I wasn’t sure, I got the answer I was looking for and I was so excited I wanted to share with others only to get shot down and rejected… so I don’t really have the courage right now to ” go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.
Maybe someday that day will come but for now I’m extremely grateful to have a loving and caring higher power who’s working miracles in my life on a daily basis

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December 10, 2025

Neyun Uzdlah Bayoh

I have fear around losing people i love, if I don’t speak up and or let them know my truth in a situation . . or how much they mean to me, i fear if i speak up I could lose them too, but at least I know if i lose them, whether their or my doing, well at least I tried to share and communicate with them in my most honest way, and they also know the truth in my heart . I would rather be loved from safety, truth and love than from any veils, masks or for the sake of sacrificing the awkward conversations . Awkward conversations are the hard ones, but they are the ones that when worked through, heal us, and help us be better . How can we let each other be better if we don’t communicate our needs, hopes and fears with each other . Courage is not the absence of fear, but i will always try to choose courage if I can muster it xo

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December 10, 2025

Ari L

Just, I struggle to speak up for my own discomfort with others. I have a lot of trauma around people being abusive or aggressive in living situations where speaking up for myself caused more problems with no recourse for me in the end. I know it’s the healthiest thing to do. I want to do it. But because of my past experiences I find myself guarding my heart and lacking the courage when these sorts of moments come up.

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December 11, 2020

easy does it (repost)

FEATURED POST FROM THE ZONR VAULT – “ignoring the fear and working through it would be great
easier said then done but if i go in with the proper mental attitude… helps” (easy does it, 2011/12/11)

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December 11, 2011

Slim Jim

Every communication with my work I have to dig deep to be clear about why I should be hired back and whether it was persistence or my HP’s good grace, I’m back.

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