By Dr. Dan Peters, Executive Director, Summit Center, and Podcast Host, Make It A Great One
Fear. It’s a four-letter word that shapes our choices more than we realize. Sometimes it’s obvious—a pounding heart before a big presentation, a stomach drop before boarding a plane. Other times, it creeps in quietly, shrinking our world one avoided dinner party, road trip, or risk at a time.
In my conversation with author and resilience coach Renee Zukin, we explored a truth that flips the script on fear: courage isn’t the absence of it. Courage is deciding to move forward with fear riding right beside you.
The Mantra That Changed Everything
For years, Renee’s world grew smaller as anxiety and OCD took root. Social invitations became daunting. Travel felt impossible. Even day-to-day life felt like an obstacle course.
One morning—standing in a bathroom, angry at her own limitations—Renee realized something: getting out of bed that day had taken real bravery. That simple shift became her personal mantra: Every Day I’m Brave.
And with it came a radical new perspective—your “brave” doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It can be as small as making it to work, or as big as boarding a flight.
Letting Fear Sit Beside You
We’re wired to avoid discomfort. As I often tell my clients, avoidance is anxiety’s best friend. It gives fear a larger and larger footprint and hold in our lives.
Renee’s breakthrough came when a trusted therapist, Dr. Temple, challenged her to stop resisting fear and instead… let it be there. At first, the idea seemed absurd. But over time, allowing fear to sit—without acting on it, without trying to “fix” it—lessened its hold.
This wasn’t about ignoring fear. It was about making space for it without letting it drive.
Diagnoses as Doorways, Not Definitions
In her 30s, Renee received a formal diagnosis of OCD—after years of thinking her intrusive thoughts and rituals were “just how she was.” Far from boxing her in, this label opened the door to understanding her own mind and finding tools that worked.
We discussed how the right diagnosis, delivered with care, can be empowering. It’s not about defining you. It’s about giving you the language and resources to navigate life more effectively.
Flipping the “What Ifs”
If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, you know the “what if” spiral:
What if I fail? What if I panic? What if I can’t handle it?
Renee began flipping those questions:
What if it works out? What if I meet my new best friend? What if this opens a new door?
It’s the same mental muscle—imagination—pointed toward possibility instead of catastrophe. And it’s surprisingly powerful.
Fear and Courage Are a Package Deal
One of Renee’s favorite metaphors is the white tiger—her personal symbol for the duality of fear and bravery. Like the zebra that returns to the watering hole even after a predator’s attack, we can keep showing up, even knowing fear may be waiting.
You don’t have to banish fear to live fully. You just have to keep walking to the watering hole.
Final Thought
The bravest people you know aren’t fearless. They’re people who take one more step, even with fear at their side.
As Renee says, “There is a way through the darkness, and it starts with the willingness to believe another path is possible, even when we can’t quite see it yet.”
That’s lived wisdom worth carrying, as we acknowledge our bravery each day.
Listen to the full episode of Make It A Great One with Renee Zukin (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transforming-anxiety-ocd-and-fear-into-courage/id1157097748?i=1000722936433)
Learn more about Renee’s work and podcast at everydayimbrave.com.
Are you concerned that worry and fear are getting in the way of your daily life? Summit Center offers comprehensive assessment services for both adults and children. Our licensed psychologists will tailor your evaluation based on your goals and the questions to be answered. Types of assessments may include intellectual, academic, neuropsychological, social, emotional, or behavioral. Learn more at https://summitcenter.us/services/#Assessment-anchor or complete this short form to schedule an appointment.
About Dr. Dan Peters:
Dan Peters, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist who has devoted his career to helping children, adolescents and families engage in life so that they can realize their full potential. Dr. Peters is co-founder and Executive Director of the Summit Center in California. He is host of Make It A Great One with Dr. Dan, a podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS, and elsewhere.
