Quotes From Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway

So, you’re afraid. Maybe it’s public speaking, asking for a raise, or finally telling your neighbor their bamboo plants are staging a hostile takeover. Welcome to the club. That’s exactly where Susan Jeffers found us back in 1987 when she dropped the self-help bomb, Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway. The book is basically a permission slip to be a trembling mess—and do it anyway.

Let’s be real: the title alone is a workout. It forces you to picture yourself sweating through a speech while your hands shake like a Chihuahua in a thunderstorm. But Jeffers’ whole point is that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s ordering a triple espresso even when your stomach is doing interpretive dance. Her quotes are like tiny, wise memes from a pre-internet era.

“Feel the fear and do it anyway”

This is the headline, the killer app, the motto of every brave fool who ever lived. Jeffers didn’t just coin a phrase; she invented a lifestyle for people who are terrified of their own shadow. You can almost hear her saying it: “Oh, you’re scared to skydive? Cool. Jump out of the plane anyway.”

Fun fact: Jeffers originally called the book Do It Scared, but her publisher forced a title change. Imagine the alternate universe where everyone is screaming “Do It Scared!” at karaoke. It just doesn’t have the same ring. But the principle is pure gold: fear is just bad breath—annoying but not lethal.

“Whatever happens, I can handle it”

Here’s the quote that makes you feel like a superhero with a caffeine addiction. Jeffers argues that most of our fear comes from a deep-seated belief that we can’t handle disaster. But she says you can. You absolutely can. Even if disaster means spilling coffee on your boss’s white shirt during a presentation.

Psychologists call this self-efficacy, but Jeffers calls it “growing a spine.” And it’s surprisingly true: studies show that people who believe they can handle anything are less stressed. So next time you’re panicking, just whisper, “I can handle this.” Even if you’re handling it by hiding in a bathroom stall for twenty minutes.

“The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it”

This one is painfully simple, like finding out the secret to losing weight is eating less. Jeffers says avoidance feeds fear like a greasy cheeseburger feeds regret. The more you run, the bigger the fear grows. The only cure is to poke the bear with a stick named “action.”

Surprising fact: this is backed by exposure therapy, a real psychological treatment where you gradually face your terror. Jeffers just made it sound like a Nike slogan. So if you’re afraid of spiders, don’t avoid them—go name one “Fluffy” and watch it crawl. (Full disclosure: do not try this with black widows.)

Jillian Michaels Quote: “Feel the Fear. Do it anyway!”

“Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes from a feeling of helplessness”

This is the mic drop of the whole book. Jeffers basically says that being scared of trying is way worse than the actual failure. Regret is a slow, nasty poison; rejection is just a bruise that heals. She compares the pain of inaction to a paper cut that never stops bleeding.

Think about it: that job you didn’t apply for haunts you more than the rejection letter ever would. That person you didn’t ask out becomes a ghost that follows you to brunch. Jeffers says, “Better to humiliate yourself today than wonder what if for a decade.” And honestly? That’s the kind of tough love we need.

“You can choose to be a victim of the world or a creator of your world”

Oh, look—personal responsibility dressed up in a party hat. This quote is Jeffers’ version of a motivational slap. She insists that we all have a choice, and blaming your circumstances is a very cozy, very comfortable prison. You can either sit around complaining about the rain or build an ark.

Hilarious part: she wrote this in the 1980s, long before “main character energy” was a thing. But the idea is timeless. You’re not a lettuce leaf getting tossed by the wind; you’re the angry chef making that wind into a salad. So, yeah—choose to create. Or choose to binge-watch Netflix. But own the choice, you beautiful mess.

“No one is coming to save you”

This sounds harsh, like a breakup text from Yoda. But Jeffers says it with love. The big secret is that no white knight, rich uncle, or magical fairy is showing up to fix your life. You are the only person with your keys. You are the locksmith and the lock.

Statistically, most people wait for an external “sign” or permission to change. Jeffers says the sign is already there: it’s the sweat on your forehead from anxiety. And that’s your cue. So ditch the fantasy of rescue. Instead, become the awkward, terrified hero of your own story. Feel the fear. Do it anyway. And maybe buy the book—it’s cheaper than therapy.