I’ve noticed lately a big trend in quotes about how to be more confident, more in control, more in control of your thoughts, or how to overcome fear. Some of the quotes are so good and so clear, I want to scream to the heavens about them. Here are a few of my favorites.
“I’m afraid to be afraid.
In a nutshell, this is the idea that you should be afraid of not being afraid. While this idea could be used as a philosophy in and of itself, it is also a great way to create confidence.
I want to scream, “F*ck Fear.
The fear of being afraid, or the fear of not being afraid, is a very human emotion, so it’s no surprise that there are a plethora of quotes out there that talk about overcoming fear. You can read about the fear of not being afraid in one of my articles, and I think you’ll find the idea that we can overcome the fear of not being afraid to be so incredibly useful.
While I would never go so far as to say that I was courageous, I do believe that I have overcome the fear of not being afraid. This comes in a variety of forms. Sometimes it’s just a matter of being willing to step out of my comfort zone and live my life differently than the norm. Other times I have put myself in danger so that I could be more of myself and stand out from the crowd.
Of all the kinds of fears I have overcome, I am afraid to be afraid. I’m afraid to be afraid of the things that scare me, and I’m afraid of people who make fun of me, and I’m afraid of people who don’t give a shit. But that’s the thing, I can overcome these fears, I can look them directly in the eye, and in the end I know that I am not afraid of what life throws my way.
There is a saying that says, “Never let ‘em see you sweat.” In other words, always tell a joke. Even if it’s a lame one, tell a joke. Why? Because people who are genuinely afraid are likely to laugh and want to share their “shocking” experience. And even if you don’t like the joke, tell it anyway.