Fear is a thief that robs us of our dreams. Think how different the world would be if the Wright Brothers were afraid of a crash landing. What if Thomas Edison, inventor of numerous creations including the lightbulb, had been afraid of failure? What if Abraham Lincoln had been afraid of making an unpopular choice?

It’s natural to feel fear. We’re hardwired on a genetic level to run the other way when danger, in any form, presents itself. Those handy instincts that saved our butts from dinosaurs and ancient predators were a good thing back then. In today’s world, however, that irrational fear is a big, big hindrance.

So don’t be afraid of being afraid. It’s part of the human existence. Just make sure you manage your fear as opposed to allowing it to control you. Sometimes in life, you’ll have to take a risk. You’ll have to step outside your comfort zone. To achieve greatness, you may have to do things that seem scary. And that’s okay, because the alternative is far more frightening.