Courage comes before confidence.
We wait because we don’t want to get it wrong.
We tell ourselves we need more time, more clarity, more certainty before we move.
But waiting doesn’t protect us, it delays us.
Confidence isn’t what gets us started.
Confidence is what grows after we begin.
We don’t build confidence by thinking about the step.
We build confidence by taking it.
The Myth of Readiness
Most of us were taught that readiness comes first. That there will be a moment where everything feels aligned: the timing, the emotion, the certainty.
But readiness isn’t a sign we wait for. It’s something that forms through action.
We learn as we go.
We adjust.
We refine.
We grow.
And yes, it feels uncomfortable. But growth happens in discomfort. Not because discomfort is the goal, but because stepping into the unknown requires us to stretch beyond what feels familiar.
What Courage Really Looks Like
Courage isn’t always bold or loud.
Most of the time, it looks ordinary:
Sending the email.
Saying the truth out loud.
Setting a boundary you’ve avoided.
Trying something without knowing whether you’ll excel or fail.
Courage is choosing yourself before your fear finishes its argument.
The Threshold Moment
There’s always a pause. The space between intention and action.
It feels like:
I want this.
I’m scared.
I don’t know if I can.
I can’t not.
Some people turn back there.
Some stay paused for months. Or years.
And some take one imperfect, shaky step.
Only one of those choices builds the future.
A Practice for Courage
Try this:
Name the thing you’re avoiding.
Not the story, the action.Break it into the smallest possible step.
Smaller than that. Smaller again.Do that step. Today.
Not when you feel ready. Not when the fear quiets.
Today.
Because the first step isn’t about mastery. It’s about movement.
Coaching Reflection
Explore gently, without judgment:
Where am I waiting to feel confident before I begin?
What step would I take if I trusted myself?
What’s one thing I could do today that moves me forward, even if it feels small?
An Invitation
If you're done rehearsing fear and ready to practice courage, you don’t have to do it alone.
Book a Discovery Session.
It’s time.
