Over the course of the last week, global financial markets have been thrown into chaos by the announcement of new American tariff policies that threaten to disrupt businesses, trade, and the current world order.

This is not an article about those tariffs.

This is an article about the interesting human behavior the episode revealed.

Warren Buffett, the world's most prominent investor, has a famous line:

"Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful."

As I did my weekly scan of the financial markets on Sunday evening, I couldn't help but think about that quote. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down 10% and 15%, respectively, a dramatic decline in just a few days.

Fear was flowing through the system.

So, where were all the people who were being greedy while others were fearful?

Well, as it turns out, it's much easier to repeat the quote during calm seas than it is to live by the quote during storms.

This article is about how you operate in the storms—an open letter on the most important human trait...

Life at the Testing Point

In 1942, author C.S. Lewis offered this brilliant characterization:

Courage is not about the spotlight. It's not about the glamorous Hollywood moments. It's not about perfection.

Courage is who you are when it's inconvenient. When no one is watching. When the rewards are uncertain. When the outcomes are unpredictable.

It's easy to declare our values, principles, and virtues in times of peace—it's hard to live by them in times of war.

Courage is defined at the testing point.

It's easy to be a loyal friend on a bright summer day. How will you show up when winter comes?

It's easy to think long-term when the future is bright. How will you show up when the horizon gets dark?

It's easy to be brave when you have nothing to lose. How will you show up when you have everything on the line?

You are defined at the testing point.

Courage is a Choice

Talent and intelligence are abundant. Courage is not.

There’s someone out there living the life you want simply because they had the courage to act. They aren’t smarter than you. They aren’t more talented than you. They just took action when you didn’t.

They recognized that fear comes from inexperience, not incapability. You're afraid because you haven't done it yet, not because you can't do it. Inexperience is the problem to be solved, and it's only solved through having the courage to act.

They realized that the worst prison in the world is having the talent and intelligence to achieve something great but lacking the courage to go out and do it.

They understood that the regret from inaction is always worse than the regret from action.

But here's the most empowering thought:

Courage is not born, it is chosen.

Every single day, you get to choose how you show up at your testing point. You have agency. You are at the wheel. You are in control of your future with your actions in the present.

The challenges do not get any easier—if anything, they get harder as you rise—but you get stronger. You grow. You change.

When you arrive at your testing point and choose to show up as the highest version of yourself, you become different.

Courage Now, Easy Later

The life you want is on the other side of the testing point you've been avoiding.

The stoic philosopher Seneca once wrote:

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult."

You cannot build a life of meaning, purpose, and character by taking the easy path at the testing point.

Choose to dare. Choose hard. Choose courage.

Courage now, easy later.