Shaka Senghor provides a powerful reframe of courage, arguing it is not the absence of fear. In fact, one cannot be courageous without first being afraid. Courage is simply the decision to move forward and take action in the presence of fear.

The conviction that you can achieve something is what enables the actions that create proof. Waiting for external validation first is a common fear response that leads to inaction and downward spirals. You must decide you can before the evidence exists.

Waiting to overcome fear before pursuing new ventures is a recipe for stagnation. Pushing beyond your comfort zone is naturally terrifying, but it's also exhilarating and essential for growth. The key is to act in spite of the fear, because that is when you are most alive and your potential expands.

Courage isn't the absence of fear but the decision to act despite it. This reframes bravery from a fixed personality characteristic to a skill that can be developed by choosing to lean into fear and not let it dictate actions.

We fear things not because we are incapable of doing them, but because we haven't done them yet. This reframes fear as a simple information gap that can be closed through action. The problem to solve is the inexperience itself, which diminishes with every step taken.

Do not wait to feel confident before you start a new venture. Confidence isn't something you find; it's something you build through the repetitive act of showing up and doing the work, even when you're terrified. It is a result of consistent courage, not a cause of it.

Vague goals like "build confidence" are ineffective. Instead, identify a specific fear and create a daily micro-action that forces you to face it (e.g., asking a stranger a question). This consistent, uncomfortable practice desensitizes you to the fear and builds genuine confidence through action, not just thought.

Stop waiting for confidence to act. Confidence is not a prerequisite but a result. Taking action, even when you feel incompetent, builds skills. This competence is what ultimately generates authentic confidence.

You cannot think your way out of the fear of your own greatness. Potential is unlocked through doing. Action, even if it doesn't yield immediate results, begets more action, which in turn begets courage. Narrative itself can be defined as "fear made conscious and conquered through action."