By Leo Babauta

We all could make a nice list of tasks and projects we’ve been avoiding. We call it “procrastination” because we judge ourselves for avoiding. But avoidance is a natural response to fear!

And that’s all that’s going on: we’re feeling some fear. Maybe it’s overwhelm, maybe it’s anxiety, maybe we’re just afraid of looking bad. But at the heart of things, it’s simply fear. If we’re avoiding or procrastinating, we’re feeling fear.

And when we’re feeling fear, what’s required is some courage.

Let’s talk about courage …

Courage is summoning up the motivation, commitment and energy to take action in the face of fear.

Courage is the willingness to admit that there’s fear there, and to face that fear.

Courage is the willingness to feel the fear we don’t want to feel.

Courage is simply a willingness to feel.

And that is a choice. We can choose to feel the fear, and commit ourselves to action. You can choose that right now.

Would you like to finally face the things you’ve been avoiding? Would you like to take action in your life and begin to move things forward? Would you like to have your life start to flow instead of feeling stagnant?

Then choose to feel whatever fear is there, and then to move forward.

Commit yourself. Take a breath, and then take the plunge.

One way to do that, with my support and with the support of others, is to join my Fearless Living Academy. We ask you to take action, and practice this kind of commitment and courage.

Jump in, even if you don’t feel ready. This is how we begin to create change.