If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to

The wise and compassionate David Viscott, a healer of minds and hearts, once declared: “If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.” Though these words are simple, they carry the resonance of eternal truth, echoing the lessons that philosophers, warriors, and dreamers have spoken since the dawn of time. For in every great endeavor—whether in art, battle, or the quiet labor of life—the hardest step is the first one. To begin is to confront the unknown; it is to lift one’s foot from the safety of the shore and trust that the next stone will appear beneath it. In this single act lies the seed of all victory.

In the world of the ancients, the masters of wisdom taught that action is the bridge between fear and destiny. The courage to begin is not merely a moment of decision—it is the moment in which the soul declares its freedom from doubt. Viscott, a man who devoted his life to understanding the human spirit, saw that the greatest enemy of success is not failure but hesitation. Many possess dreams, but few possess the courage to take the first step. Yet he reminds us that once that step is taken, the rest of the path unfolds with a strength born of motion. To act is to awaken; to begin is to already possess within yourself the power to succeed.

The origin of Viscott’s insight lies in his work as a psychiatrist, where he witnessed the torment of those paralyzed by fear. He saw that greatness does not fail for lack of talent, but for lack of will. A person can plan forever, dream forever, and still remain unchanged. But the one who dares to act, even trembling, sets forces in motion—forces of courage, discipline, and persistence—that gather strength with every heartbeat. Once you have conquered the fear of beginning, you have already proven your courage, and that same courage, properly nurtured, will carry you to the end.

Consider the tale of Christopher Columbus, who set sail into seas that maps declared empty and monsters were said to haunt. The kings and scholars doubted him; the sailors feared the edge of the world. Yet he dared to begin—to put his trust not in certainty, but in vision. That first act of courage—stepping aboard the ship and turning his back on the familiar shores of Spain—was the hardest. Every storm he faced thereafter, every moment of despair, was merely an extension of that first decision. For once a soul has learned to act despite fear, every subsequent act becomes a reaffirmation of that same courage.

This truth runs like a golden thread through the lives of all who have achieved greatness. The poet who writes the first line, the inventor who builds the first model, the teacher who takes the first step into a classroom—all must begin before they can become. The path of success is not illuminated by certainty but by faith in motion. The first spark of courage ignites the fire of perseverance, and once that fire burns, even the winds of failure cannot easily extinguish it. In beginning, the heart discovers its own strength; in persistence, it proves it.

The ancients would have said that to begin is to align oneself with the divine rhythm of creation. The universe itself began with a single act—a word, a spark, a moment of divine courage that broke the silence of eternity. So too must every human being find the courage to begin, for creation lives not only in gods but in the hearts of those who dare. Viscott’s wisdom, then, is both humble and sacred: when you overcome the fear of starting, you have already tasted victory. The first act of courage is not only the key to success—it is success in its earliest form.

The lesson, then, is clear: begin, even if you are afraid. Do not wait for the perfect moment, for it will never come. Do not demand certainty, for no hero ever possessed it. Take one step, however small, and let that step awaken the sleeping power within you. Once you move, fear begins to lose its hold; once you act, courage grows stronger with every breath. Remember that the same courage that lifts you to begin will sustain you to finish. Success is not a gift bestowed by fate, but the unfolding reward of a single daring act—the decision to start.

So remember, O seeker of purpose: life does not reward the hesitant, but the brave. The mountain cannot be conquered by thought alone; it yields only to the one who climbs. Take Viscott’s words as your compass—if you can summon the courage to begin, you already carry within you the fire to succeed. Let your first step be your declaration of faith, your promise to the future. For the universe honors the soul that dares, and every journey of greatness begins the same way—with trembling hands, a steady heart, and one courageous step forward.