Franklin Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” But the fact remains fear can paralyze us. Courage is the most important quality but often the hardest to find.
Anything worth having in my life has come as a result of courage. When I let things happen to me instead of acting courageously, disaster resulted. I’m sure you can think of many examples of the same in your own life.
One of the most courageous endeavors is to live a life of integrity. It took courage to determine my values and decide to live by them. And more courage to set boundaries and stick with them.
One of the most courageous endeavors is to live a life of integrity. Click To TweetIt takes courage every day to live the life you want in the face of a world that would shame you for those desires. Here are 8 ways to display courage in your life.
1. Say no.
It’s so simple but many of us would rather go along with things than stand up for ourselves with a simple ‘no‘.
To avoid confrontation or rejection, we acquiesce to things that hurt our souls. And that takes a tremendous toll on our health and well-being.
2. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
You’ve heard it said that courage is not the absence of fear, but acting in the face of it. In fact, fear is what makes someone courageous.
Reject the idea that fear means you lack courage.
3. Let go of what people think.
This one’s difficult because humans care what others think of us. It’s in our nature and necessary for our survival.
But basing your decisions on others’ perceived opinions instead of your own is cowardly. If you want to live a fulfilling and integrated life, you must put the opinions of others aside and act in your own best interest.
If you want to live a fulfilling and integrated life, you must put the opinions of others aside and act in your own best interest. Click To Tweet4. Do the hard thing.
Often the right thing to do is the hard thing. Don’t avoid situations out of fear of conflict. Address them head on and rip off the Band-Aid.
The short-term discomfort is less painful than the long-term consequences of choosing cowardice over courage.
5. Speak your mind.
That doesn’t mean you have to spew your opinions all the time. Don’t people like that make you angry?
But speak your truth when and how it feels appropriate to you. It takes courage to express ourselves honestly, but it’s the only way to be known.
6. Accept risk.
Understand that a life worth living involves taking risks. Let those risks be calculated and mitigated, but please don’t avoid them.
For example, real estate investing as a single mother exposed me to some risk, but the returns have been worth it.
7. Broaden your horizons.
Instead of staying in the same bubble, branch out and get to know people and places different from your usual.
Getting outside your comfort zone will build your confidence and give you new ideas for living a fantastic life.
8. Read about courageous people.
Reading stories about people who have displayed acts of courage can inspire you to do the same.
Especially if you share a similar background, learning about acts of bravery can shift your mindset into one of endless possibility.