I’m not a big fiction reader.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll read the occasional Sci-Fi or Sherlock Holmes story, but out of the 194 books I’ve read, I’ve only picked up like 10 fiction novels.

But there’s one in particular that has stood out to me.

It’s actually in my top-ten favorite books of all time.

It’s called:

How To Fight A Hydra by Josh Kaufman.

The story itself is only 87 pages, but it’s a great story on a lone adventurer who sets out to find a Hydra to claim the riches it’s guarding.

Along the way, he begins to have doubts about whether it’s even worth his time.

He starts to second guess his abilities.

And as he gets closer to the Hydra’s den, he starts to become overwhelmed by this sense of fear, so much that he started to come up with excuses as to why he shouldn’t continue his journey.

That was until he realized that it’s acting in spite of fear is what defines courage.

From that moment on, a large portion of the story is about our lone adventurer going up against the biggest battle of his life.

Of course I’m not going to give up the rest of the story, but I will share one tidbit of the ending.

In the end, our adventurer shares some lessons as to what he learned throughout his life, and the first one is easily my favorite and probably the most important lesson on the aspect of fear:

What he’s getting at is, fear is the killer of dreams as it’s what ultimately prevents us from setting out on them in the first place.

And obviously you’re not going to be up against any Hydra’s anytime soon, but you will be up against anxiety.

You’re going to be up against a new job.

You’re going to be up against negative people.

And you’re going to be afraid. A lot.

But you’re never going to overcome that fear just by reminiscing on it.

Just apply for that job.

Cut off those negative friends.

As Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Push past that barrier and you might be surprised at how insignificant it all seemed.

So next time you’re afraid, remember the treasure that lies on the other side.

You owe it to yourself.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m now reading The Art of Living by Epictetus. A collection of some of Epictetus’ greatest works translated by Sharon Lebell.

Quote Of The Week - “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” — Babe Ruth