I recently came across one of those quotes that make you stop and think.

It was from Walt Disney:

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

But how often do we lose sight of our dreams and the courage to pursue them?

When things are difficult, we often run in the other direction. What we need to do instead is find that inner strength, deep down, to overcome those perceived barriers. And that’s really all they are—something stuck in our head without any evidence of truth.

The reality is most dreams can come true, but we need to be courageous to pursue them. We need to learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Invest our time and energy. And believe we can make a difference.

If we just daydream and avoid making changes in our lives, nothing will happen. This can result in feeling frustrated and maybe even angry. If we want our dreams to come true, we need to do something about them. Not someday, but right now. Procrastination is not an option. Only courageous people accomplish their dreams. This applies to big dreams, and to simple everyday dreams.

If you’ve been struggling with fear and want to feel more courageous in your life, there are several ways you can start working on your courage.

Here’s some tips on how to make sure you’re living a life filled with bravery:

Realize fear will never go away. It’s scary to step off that cliff and take a chance. Part of finding our courage is being able to recognize the fear and do it anyway.

Understand the importance of being persistent. Walt Disney showed persistence by not giving up what he wanted to do, despite the obstacles he faced throughout his career.

Surround yourself with people who believe in you. We all need our own cheerleaders in life. Those supporters can help us find strength when we experience self-doubt.

Understand the role of failure. It’s easy to give up when things don’t work out. But the reality is we are going to fail—a lot. Failure doesn’t mean our ideas aren’t valid or our dreams aren’t good enough. Look at failure as a redirection, an opportunity.

It’s never too late to start living a courageous life. Walt Disney embodied his quote by dreaming big and being courageous despite the challenges and skeptics. Without his courage to dream and execute, we would not have the beloved institution that has become Disney and those adorable Mickey ears! So, find your dream and look at your fears as an opportunity to build your courage muscles. Before long, you’ll be able to push through your discomfort and live the kind of life you have always wanted.

And in case you’re wondering what Walt Disney’s biggest fear was? He was actually terrified of mice.