When you watch a superhero movie, who do you look up to? You probably answered, “the hero.” We like heroes because heroes have courage and face their fears every day. However, we don’t need to be a superhero to have courage.
Courage is found in unlikely places. And we all have the ability to be courageous; we just need to seek out opportunities to face our fears.
What is Courage?
Courage is the ability to do something that scares you. It is being willing to go through challenging or even dangerous situations despite feeling afraid.
There are many benefits to having courage including the following:
- Increases your self-confidence
- Helps you step out of your comfort zone
- Allows you to take on a new perspective
- Helps you chase your dreams
- Increases happiness
Where Can Courage Be Found?
You may read the definition above and think to yourself, “I’m just not really a courageous person.” You may imagine a courageous person climbing up a mountain or walking on a tight rope across the Grand Canyon, but courage isn’t only found in the extremes.
It takes courage to live every day of our lives. We have to do so many things that scare us. For example, we have to drive a car, let someone else watch our children, interview for jobs, pay the bills, manage our mental health, etc. There are so many courageous acts that we do every day. What is courageous for you depends on what scares you, not what scares someone else.
How to Be More Courageous
Everyone can benefit from being more courageous. Here are four ways that you can become more courageous and reap the benefits of living a courageous life.
View Yourself as Courageous
First, you need to view yourself as a courageous person. Our minds are very powerful; you need to believe that you have courage in order to do something courageous.
Think of things you’ve done in the past that demonstrated your courage. For example, maybe you fear public speaking, but you gave a presentation in class anyway. You faced your fear; therefore, you had courage. Remind yourself of the many times you’ve done something when you were afraid and recognize the courage that already lies within you.
Identify What Scares You
We are all afraid of different things. In order to overcome our fears, we first need to know what scares us in the first place.
Think about the things in your life that make you uncomfortable. Think about the things you are unwilling to do because they scare you. Then write them all down and say them out loud. Just like with any monster, you need to understand what you’re up against before planning your attack.
Take Small Steps Outside of Your Comfort Zone
Now that you know what scares you, work on making small steps outside of your comfort zone. It is common to think we need to go all-in on facing our fears but taking small steps can ease us into conquering what scares us.
Let’s go back to our presentation example. If giving a presentation to your entire class or your entire company is too scary, start by giving the presentation to one or two of your friends. A smaller audience or people you’re close to can help alleviate some of your concerns.
Bring in Reinforcements
When doing something that scares you, it is always beneficial to have someone to help. Let someone you trust know that you are working on facing your fears and let them help push you to be more courageous.
