Fear is a Reaction, Courage is a Decision
Way back in December, I sat down and made a list of the quotes I wanted to use on my website in 2025. My plan was to offer a mix of voices. Some were fun and irreverent, but most were supposed to be thought provoking and empowering.
This month’s quote from Winston Churchill was meant to reflect the choices my main character, Samantha Thomas, has to make throughout the series. It’s also a reminder that we too have agency.
Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.
In the book, Samantha has to fight against the people who dismiss her as less than human because of her mixed DNA. She also has to defend herself from the supernatural community’s common enemy, the Herne group. Then there are the petty rivalries from people, including her own family, who simply resent her for existing.
I have to keep a spreadsheet because so many people hate her for so many reasons—real and imagined.
This is Samantha’s reality. And the fear of censure, if not violence or death, has forced her to hide almost her entire life.
Most of us don’t live in a world of such extremes, but that doesn’t mean we are free from situations that invoke some level of fear.
Churchill’s words ask us to challenge the reactionary responses that hold us back and muster the courage to choose the ones that move us forward.
Fear keeps us safe. It’s a legitimate evolutionary defense against the unknown.
While I would never ask you to put yourself in harm’s way, I will ask you to assess the situation before committing to a response.
Take some time to consider the pros and cons, and consider the repercussions.
In many situations, it’s entirely possible you will find your fear is a response to the unknown rather than a genuine threat with dangerous or undesirable consequences.
If that is the case, think about making a conscious choice to set aside your fears and choose to press on with courage.
