I find that one of the biggest hurdles right now that many are having to face is that of courage in the face of fear – finding that our hearts are stronger than the voices in our heads and the conditioning of our experiences and “pasts.” It’s not that fears completely dissipate, but we learn to process them differently, put them into perspective, understand them and in essence, master them. In doing so they no longer control us, rather, we become empowered and decide for ourselves what we want to experience. This is the time to put all fears aside and to step into our authentic power so that we may share our gifts in passionate and compassionate service to others. Many are embracing this at this time and can be examples and guiding lights in the process. Fears are the manifestations of the hindrances we are experiencing in varying and seemingly arbitrary forms. I know it is challenging, but I am right there with you on this journey. This is your time and the energy of the now is supporting your integration into “being.”

One of my favorite animated movies, The Secret of Nimh, amongst many of its very potent messages, shares this “courage of the heart” beautifully in this scene where Mrs. Brisby is about to lose her children as their house collapses in the mud:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnY0fI43Rr4

“Courage of the heart is very rare…the stone has a power when its there.”

Here are some more inspiring quotes on courage in the face of fear:

“It’s OK to have butterflies in your stomach. Just get them to fly in formation.” Helen Keller

“I never take counsel of my fears.” General George Patton

“The key to change…is to let go of fear.” Rosanne Cash

“Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.” Harold Wilson

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” Sven Goran Eriksson

“If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything.” Win Borden

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” John Maxwell

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh.” A. A. Milne

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” William Shedd

“Stand facing the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” from a school blackboard in Whitby

“I always knew that one day I would take this road but yesterday I did not know today would be the day.” Nagarjuna

“He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realise.” Oscar Wilde

“Confront the dark parts of yourself and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.” August Wilson

“What we seek we shall find; what we flee from flees from us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” Mark Twain

“Arise, awake and don’t stop until the goal is achieved.” Swami Vivekananda

“People do not lack strength; they lack will.” Victor Hugo

“He who moves not forward, goes backward.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“By perseverance the snail reached the Ark.” Charles Spurgeon