Fear can be your friend. It can keep you from doing something destructive. It can keep you alive. But it can also prevent you from doing what you need to do.

How do you know when you should listen to fear or when you should act in spite of it? The question is whether the thing you fear is something you feel called to do. Not to impress others, but because it matters.

Example: I don’t bungee jump, because of fear. Fear of a pointless death. But I’m willing to die doing something that matters. I’m also willing to murder my reputation for something that matters. I won’t bungee jump just because someone will think I’m chicken for not doing it.

Is there value in doing things like bungee jumping? Sure. But does it really outweigh the potential cost? What if it were a game of Russian roulette, but with a lot more chambers in the gun? That’s what it actually is.

If you want to overcome fear why not do something that’s actually going to make a difference in someone’s life. Something that you feel lead to do, but have been putting off because you’re afraid of what others will think of you. That takes real guts. And it matters.