“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage .” - Anais Nin

Introduction:

Courage doesn’t have to be a big thing. It’s in all the small steps that we take each day to make our dreams come alive. 

It’s doing the thing even when we really don’t want to be doing the thing. 

Is there such a thing as a roadmap to fearlessness?

Let’s unpick this.

We're going to look at 5 different ways you can be more courageous today! 👊

1. Understand fear

Courage begins with a deep understanding of fear. Instead of avoiding or denying it, confront it head-on. Recognize that fear is a natural response to the unknown and can often be a signal of growth opportunities. 

Fear takes many forms but if you can understand why you’re afraid of something - the root cause of it - you can then recognise it when it happens. 

Recognise it and call it out for what it is. 

Your past impacting your future. 

Fear is our subconscious’s way of protecting us. 

You don’t need protecting now. You’re not that person anymore.

2. Set clear goals

Courage thrives when there's a clear purpose. 

Getting really clear on exactly what you want and why you want it gives us a positive energy. 

Are you imagining broadly enough? We can only achieve what we can imagine and we play fair too small with this. 

Having something to work towards that excites us can make us hugely courageous. 

So think big with your goals and then break them down into easier chunks

3. Embrace vulnerability

Vulnerability can be seen as a weakness, but it's a powerful tool for building courage. If you’re open and honest about your insecurities with those around you, a lot of time you’d be surprised about who else shares them. 

This in turn creates connection. Connection and a support network that encourages your willingness to be courageous.

4. Practice resilience

Courage doesn't mean being fearless; it means persevering despite fear. 

This is the key and that requires resilience. 

For me,resilience is a mutli faceted foundation of mental fitness. 

Boiling that down - it’s the ability to keep going. 

A few ways to do this include: maintaining a positive outlook, so changing the narrative that's going on in your head - switch 'I never get it right' to 'I just didn't get it right first time'. Also, you can choose your response. If a set back happens, remember you can choose how you respond to it.

5. Take incremental steps

Like any muscle (I know, artistic licence), it gets stronger with use. 

Risks don’t have to huge challenges like swimming the atlantic. Then can be small, even stealth but things like speaking up in meetings or taking a different route home opens our eyes to seeing things in a new light. 

It may even be as simple as changing some of your unhealthy habits like swapping your latte with a green tea every once in a while. 

Start small and you can achieve great things. There's a good book on this called The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy if you want to read more.

How do you try and be more courageous?

Is there anything you do in particular - i'd love to know.

Philippa.

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