Confidence and courage build great dreams. Fear, however, shatters the hopes of those who spend much of their lives trapped in a zone of comfort. It fills the unaware with regret over a past they cannot change. They envision great objectives, yet fear holds them back from action.

Mark Twain had a great definition of courage. He said that "courage is not the absence of fear. It is the mastery of fear".

Some fears are healthy. They alert us to dangers and protect us from harm. Then there are other fears that blind us to our true potentials.

These unhealthy fears are dishonest messages from one's inner gremlin who shouts, "You are not good enough, wise enough, talented enough, or deserving enough to obtain the dreams of your heart." The gremlin is shrewd in that it will often sound very logical and reasonable, focusing on obstacles instead of outcomes.

If there is a special secret, it is simply this: confidence, above all, is needed to make your dreams come true. You must believe that you can obtain what you want. Yet, you must recognize each self-limiting fear, see it, feel it, and name it out loud! Then let it dissolve as any other negative thought.

Step out, do what you were afraid to do, and you will see your fear for what it is, a test to make you stronger and more resilient to life's challenges. Your confidence will increase with each fear you choose to walk through.

Confidence is yours if you will accept it. You did not come to this earth to suffer the loss of every good dream you've dreamed because you're afraidafraid to fail, afraid to succeed, afraid of what others will think, or a thousand other fears.

If you could point to one fear that you've been tolerating, what would it be? Name it now. Accept it. Then let it go.

Rosanne Ambrose-Brown wrote, "Courage is, with love, the greatest gift. We are, each of us, defeated many times, but if we accept defeat with cheerfulness, and learn from it, and try another way, then we will find fulfillment."

Give thanks for your inner courage and confidence. Do the thing you need to dothe very thing that courage will now allow you to do!

Steve Brunkhorst

Steve Brunkhorst has helped hundreds of children and adults to overcome challenges, and reach their highest potential. After completing graduate school, he built a successful private practice as a therapist, rehabilitation consultant, and workshop leader, providing services for companies and individuals throughout Missouri.

Steve is also an accomplished photographer and widely published author. His inspirational and motivational articles and stories have appeared in many ezines as well as print magazines and journals. His love for people, nature, and adventure has led him to travel widely across North America, photographing the natural world and its inhabitants. When traveling, Steve captures his experiences in poems, pictures, and stories.

Today, Steve is a professional life success coach and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular ezine bringing stories, motivational nuggets, and inspirational thoughts to help readers achieve more in their careers and personal lives. You can find many helpful achievement resources and contact Steve by visiting his website.