LAW 28: Enter Action with Boldness

“If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it.”

I like to think that this line pretty much sets the tone for the entire course of the chapter. It is, in itself, a bold statement, claiming forth that all those who hold doubt or hesitation in their hearts should cease to continue whatever task they have formulated in their minds. It is a command for all of us to realize that one must enter all situations with minds that are set and hearts that are sure. But what does it take for one to be free of doubt? How do we convince ourselves to act with confidence and show no fear?

Fear can stem from many different things – people, places, situations, even our own imaginations. I believe that boldness, the true kind, comes not from the fact that you fear nothing, but that you choose not to let such fears overcome you. This law states that one must overcome timidity and show audacity in all situations, for it is in this boldness that you shall get your way. It has been said that the bolder the lie one makes, the better, for the fact that you dare ask for something that goes far beyond what is expected or right shows that you make no hesitations about anything of the situation and of others. Such boldness will cause your prey to think that you are hiding nothing, and will make them trust you more. It is in such situations that the idea of “lions circling the hesitant prey” may also apply. People thrive on weakness. They like situations that make them feel superior, so they tend to pounce on people who are timid and seem fearful to take a stand. If a person is bold and confident from the beginning, on the other hand, other people become afraid of getting shut down by such a person and decide to just follow their lead or shy away. Such boldness then creates authority, for instilling fear into them allows one to manipulate others and get what they want from them.

It is also stated that “Going halfway with half a heart digs a deeper grave.” I personally believe in this and think that such a saying does not apply only to situations that merit recordings in the history books, but also in smaller life situations. The said situations could be about getting into a relationship, going for something you really want, or making a commitment to a group of people or to another individual. For such relationships and situations to work, you have to be sure you can commit to them wholeheartedly and fully, for hesitations breeds complication, or even worse, it could lead to you hurting a person who doesn’t deserve it. Entering all situations knowing that you are sure and completely confident allows one to succeed more in his undertakings. Making a full commitment allows you to give your best and allows little room for regret. Never hesitate, and never hold back, for going through a situation with full force and a strong heart creates opportunity. It will allow one to create his own path or direction, and will enable him to achieve things at his own pace. You are able to get everything you want, anytime you want. Also, being bold will separate one from the rest of the crowd. Acting in a bold manner will allow one to stand out and be noticed, and in this way you draw the people’s attention, and such attention will then create power. Having this power will give one the chance to manipulate a crowd and will make others see him in an authoritative light, thus ensuring that the said people will somehow be under his command.

Consider the acts of Count Victor Lustig, Ivan the Terrible, and Pietro Aretino. They had been relatively “smaller” men, those you would call underdogs, with little power and influence at their disposal. But they had taken that huge step and asked for things that, at that time, were deemed bigger than them, and whatever it was, they got it. They held no second thoughts within them, nor did they enter the situations with faint hearts and weak minds. They knew what they wanted and they took it, and sometimes they took even more. It may seem immoral to take things for yourself at the expense of others, but the fact that such people knew what they wanted and the fact that they boldly took it for themselves makes them men of power. Authority comes from that commanding presence one usually has over a crowd, and these people breathed that authority and eventually gained the power and influence they so deeply wanted. So really, it doesn’t matter where you’re from or who you are, what matters is you know what you want and you believe in yourself well enough to fight for it.

Like all things, though, boldness must be controlled. Overconfidence and holding too much authority has its own complications. One must always be practical in his undertakings. Choose your prey wisely, and make your actions timely. I believe that for boldness to work it must coexist with wisdom and timeliness – having such things and utilizing them along with this bold power will allow for the best results. So be bold, be wise, and plan your action; only then will you truly get all that your heart desires.

But this will not be easy. How does one utilize boldness? More importantly, How does one control power?

Dyan Garcia, II AB MEC, Hi 18 0