Mark Twain - Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear

the Daily Quote

Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and today is September 2nd.

Whether you’re gearing up for a busy day or taking a moment of quiet reflection, thanks for making this show part of your day!

And I'd like to thank Colin Creevy (different spelling from the Harry Potter Collin Creavey... He left a five star rating and a review in Apple Podcasts a while back. I've been busy making daily episodes and didn't see his review until now but I love it.

Collin Creevy said...

Amazing way to start your mornings positively.

Thanks Collin... you rule.

Today, we’re celebrating National Live Fearless Day. This day is all about taking a stand against the fears that hold you back. It’s a reminder that life is too short to let fear dictate your decisions. Whether it’s the fear of failure, rejection, or the unknown, today is your chance to confront it and move forward with courage. It’s about embracing the idea that the life you want is often just on the other side of your fears.

To complement today’s theme, I’ve chosen a quote by Mark Twain, who once said

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.”

Mark Twain’s words cut straight to the heart of what it means to live fearlessly. It’s not about pretending that fear doesn’t exist or trying to eliminate it entirely. Instead, it’s about recognizing fear for what it is—a natural, human response—and then choosing to move forward anyway. Courage doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid; it means you don’t let fear control you.

Think about a time when fear held you back. Maybe it was a decision you were too scared to make, a risk you didn’t take, or an opportunity you let slip by. On National Live Fearless Day, let Twain’s words remind you that the goal isn’t to eliminate fear but to master it. To look it in the eye and say, “I see you, but you’re not stopping me.”

Fear is often a signal that we’re on the brink of something important—something that could change us, stretch us, or lead us to new opportunities. So today, if there’s something you’ve been afraid to do, take a deep breath and take that first step. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be brave.

On this National Live Fearless Day, I challenge you to take that step toward living fearlessly. Remember that courage isn’t about the absence of fear; it’s about the mastery of it. Whatever you’ve been putting off, whatever you’ve been afraid to try—today is the day to start.

Thank you for spending time with me on The Daily Quote. If today’s message resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need a little extra encouragement to face their fears.

And if you have a minute, I'd love to read your review of this show just like Colin Creavy did! It really does make a difference for me to know that you like the show.

And if your listening on Spotify, did you know that Spotify added comments... so you can leave a comment about this episode right now if your on Spotify.

That is all I have for today...

Until next time, I’m Andrew McGivern signing off, and reminding you that courage is not the absence of fear, but the resistance to it. Have a fearless and fulfilling day.