Fear begets courage

Fear is real.
 This past month my friends and I have been discovering just how real fear is and what it means to be afraid.
 Fear of rejection and fear of the unknown were the two most common amongst us.
I hold both fears.
And for the most part, I am comfortable knowing I do.
One of the most quoted Bible verses about fear says, "God does not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7.
I believe this, and yet I wonder how you can define courage without fear.
You have to have one before you can truly understand the other.
Most people that know me would say I am strong and strong-willed, and yet, when it comes to things that bother me, I have issues being direct.
This is partially the fear of showing weakness.
I do not like having too many options because I do not like making big decisions without weighing all the options.
This is the fear of the unknown.
I do not like showing a lot of emotion because I do not know how it will be received.
This is fear of rejection.
These three fears work together in my current dilemma.
There is a conversation I need to have, but I am afraid to prematurely end a friendship.
I am afraid of saying how I feel without wearing my mark of strength.
I am afraid of the possibilities of the outcomes.
Yet, I know my fears will give my courage the momentum it needs to make me a stronger person.
Having fears is not a bad thing and having courage may be better, but having one without the other is impossible.