Fear & Truth & Courage

What if the truth you seek is covered by so much fear you can't get to it.  You know it's there but you are too scared to see it.  To see what you think it could be, whether it is or not.   How do you remove the fear?
 Maybe you don't, or can't remove it, but can you face it and proceed?  Well, of course, that's known as Courage.

I looked up the definition of courage and Dictionary.com defines courage as "the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear".
Wait-What?  I thought Courage was having fear and proceeding in the face of it.  I looked up some quotes on courage and found this:

“The key to change... is to let go of fear.”

 Rosanne Cash

Maybe it is just that simple.  Let go.  Then I found this:
Stanley (Jack) Rachman,  in his book Fear and Courage, offers an alternative view.  According to this view, courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. despite anxiety or fear. That is, if one does not experience anxiety or fear about doing something then it is easy to do and does not require courage or strength
.
So, which is it ?  To not have fear because you let go of it in faith.....

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
American Civil Rights Leader


Or...
to proceed in the face of fear?  Maybe it's both.
I read this piece of advice recently:
"Face each new situation with courage and optimism, that will make all the difference."
I love the addition of optimism. ( /ˈɒptəˌmɪzəm/ Show Spelleda disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.) It makes it easier somehow.


“Come to the edge.”
“We can't. We're afraid.”
“Come to the edge.”
“We can't. We will fall!”
“Come to the edge.”
 And they came.
 And he pushed them.
 And they flew.

  Guillaume Apollinaire,   1880-1918
  French Poet, Philosopher