But I've been watching myself lately and I notice I get scared by the smallest things. I get scared of saying the wrong thing in a group. I get scared of disappointing people. I get scared of being too much or not enough. So am I brave? Or am I just... growing up and learning?

Last week I had to give a presentation at work and my hands were shaking the whole time. I kept thinking I was going to mess up, that everyone would see how nervous I was and judge me. But I did it anyway. Does that count as brave? Or is brave something you only become if you do it without being scared?

I think I've been confused about this. I thought brave people weren't afraid. But maybe brave is when you're absolutely terrified and you do it anyway? Maybe brave isn't about not having fear—it's about moving forward even though the fear is there, screaming at you to stop. 🤍

I'm learning that the moments I'm most proud of are usually the ones where I was shaking the whole time. Is that what becoming braver means? That you accumulate all these little moments of doing things while afraid, and one day you realize you've actually changed?