Courage: How to Develop and Strengthen Your Inner Bravery

BY: Neighbors’ Consejo|

In moments of uncertainty and fear courage stands as the beacon that guides us forward. Yet many view it as an elusive quality reserved for the extraordinary. What if we could all harness and nurture this powerful trait? This article explores the multifaceted nature of courage, offering a roadmap to develop not only visible acts of bravery but also the quiet, inner strength that sustains us through life’s trials.

“Courage gives you the ability to put aside your fear of failure and take the first steps. Courage helps you overcome the fear of rejection and engage your stakeholders. Courage allows you to attempt things that you have not tried before, despite your fear of looking foolish.”

There are, of course, some common misconceptions or myths about courage. These are six examples:

Courage describes other people
Courage is jumping out of a plane sans parachute
Courage is a risky solo journey
Courage is impulsive
Courage can’t be taught
Courage doesn’t have a role in your daily life

What is the role of courage in our life? According to Susan Elford, a coaching consultant, “courage is more than just being brave; I believe it is the key to unlocking our full potential and living a fulfilling life. It is the thrill of stepping outside your comfort zone -of trying new things- of choosing adventure over comfort.” Jim Detert’s, author of the book “Choosing Courage”, considers that “it is courage that determines whether a leader will put leadership skills or toolkits to effective use. It is courage that is absolutely fundamental to solving problems, innovating, pursuing opportunities and safeguarding the welfare of others.”

Can we see courage in everyday acts? Sonia McDonald affirms:

Saying sorry
Be yourself and own it
Take responsibility and accountability
Keep your commitments and make goals
Have a voice and say no
Let go and forgive
Grow and learn
Listen and be present
Help others
Courage is love
Practice gratitude
Choose happiness
Learn from your mistakes
Embrace the small things
Love yourself

So, if we want to talk about our mental wellbeing and this concept, we must start with self-awareness, it is crucial in our everyday actions, as we talked in the last paragraph, because for example, self-awareness allows us to understand our emotions and thoughts, providing a clear sense of self. This understanding is crucial for acting with courage, as it gives us the confidence to face challenges and make tough decisions.

By the way, in the Blog “By the Self-Awareness Guy”, “self-awareness helps you choose courage over fear because life has a way of creating challenging situations whether you want them or not. When these difficult circumstances present themselves, you have a choice as to whether you think and behave based on fear or courage.”

Maybe at this point you’ll be confused and ask yourself: Are confidence and courage the same? The answer is no. According to the Co-Founder of SoHo Creative Studio, Michael Cinquino, we can review the differences using the 3c Method:

How can we act with courage?

Opportunity: “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” -Andre Gide
Decisions: “Fear said you have no idea what you are doing. Courage said that’s ok, you’ll learn. This needs to be done.”
Planning: Plans are good, but fear can turn planning into quicksand. Without acting plans are useless.
No perfect way: Mistakes happen. We are human. Sitting doing nothing might be your mistake.

Courage is not an exclusive trait reserved for the extraordinary but a vital quality that we can all cultivate. It goes beyond mere acts of bravery and encompasses the quiet, steadfast inner strength that helps us navigate life’s challenges. By dispelling common myths about courage, we can better understand its true nature and significance. Courage is more than daring acts; it is the foundation of personal growth, effective leadership, and a fulfilling life.

References:

Berman, Ryan. Six Courage Myths – Ryan Berman. https://ryanberman.com/six-courage-myths/.

Definition of COURAGE. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courage.

Elford, Susan. Why Courage Is Important in Business & Life – Susan Elford. https://susanelford.com/why-courage-is-important-in-business-life/.

Guy, The Self-Awareness. «Self-Awareness Helps You Choose Courage over Fear – On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware». The Self-Awareness Guy, https://www.theselfawarenessguy.com/4400/self-awareness-helps-you-choose-courage-over-fear.

Having the Courage to Take Action | Danielle Bernock. https://www.daniellebernock.com/having-the-courage-to-take-action/.

Kamath, Narayan. «Why Courage Is More Important Than Confidence». Medium, https://betterhumans.pub/why-courage-is-more-important-than-confidence-f97865efc930.

The BIG Difference Between Confidence and Courage. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/big-difference-between-courage-confidence-michael-cinquino-9gcbf.

«The Importance of Courage». Darden Ideas to Action, https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/importance-of-courage.