Coming face to face with our fears does not come easy to many people. It can be terrifying
to put ourselves in uncharted territory or to confront the things that make us feel vulnerable.
And yet, it is often only by facing our fears that we can hope to overcome them.
When we allow fear to control us, it can prevent us from living our best lives. It can hold us
back from taking risks, trying new things, and reaching our full potential. To move forward,
we must find courage in the face of fear, push past our comfort levels, and take on the
challenges that come our way.
So how do we find courage when we need it most? Let’s take a closer look at courage and
fear, then explore some helpful ways to find courage when you need it most.
What Is Courage?
The word courage is often associated with daring acts or physical strength in the face of
danger. But courage does not have to be about doing something risky or dangerous. At its
core, courage is about being afraid and still choosing to do something anyway. It’s about
facing our fears head-on and refusing to let them control us.
When we consider certain circumstances where we might need courage in the face of fear,
such as public speaking or meeting new people, it’s clear courage and fear often go hand in
hand. In order to find courage, we must first understand and accept our fears. Only then can
we begin to work on conquering them.
Of course, this is easier said than done. Sometimes certain factors are out of our control, but
we mustn’t dwell on these. Instead, we should focus on the things we can change. Once we
have pinpointed what is holding us back, we can start to implement our ways to find
courage.
5 Actionable Ways to Find Courage
Courage and fear are both natural emotions we experience. It is important to remember
everyone feels fear at some point, even if they don’t show it. Just because someone appears
to be courageous does not mean they don’t feel fear too.
These people more than likely have developed coping mechanisms for finding courage in
the face of fear. While it may not be easy, there are things we can do to ensure the scales of
courage and fear are tipped in our favor.
1. Acknowledge Your Fears
We cannot hope to gather courage in the face of fear if we do not first accept that we are
scared. Acknowledging our fears is an essential step in the right direction. Once we have
identified what it is that scares us; we can start to work on addressing these fears head-on.
Some people may feel like they need to bottle up their fears or act like they don’t exist. But
this will only make them harder to deal with in the long run. Acknowledge your concerns by
talking about them openly and honestly. Whether with a friend, family member, or therapist,
voicing our fears can help make them feel more manageable.
2. Don’t Focus on the Negative
When feeling scared or anxious, it is easy to focus on all the negative what-ifs. What if I
make a fool of myself? What if I’m not good enough? What if I fail? These thoughts can only
make us feel worse and prevent us from taking action. Of course, if this is something you
often find yourself doing, it can be a serious mind shift and is unlikely to happen overnight.
Instead of dwelling on the negative, try to focus on the positive. What are the potential
outcomes if things go well? How can this situation help me to grow and develop? What can I
learn from this experience? Shifting our focus in this way can help to ease our fears and give
us a boost of courage.
Consistency is key to developing a new mindset, so don’t get discouraged if you find your
mind slipping back into negative thinking. It takes time, but eventually, it will become easier
and more natural for you to focus on the positive.
3. Give Yourself a Pep Talk
One of the best ways to find courage is to be our own advocates. We must learn how to
stand up for ourselves, both physically and mentally. You are here on this earth for a reason,
so don’t be afraid to show the world what you’re made of.
When we feel scared or unsure, giving ourselves a little pep talk can be helpful. This could
involve positive self-talk or motivational mantras. For example, try telling yourself ‘you can do
this’ or ‘you are brave’. It may sound silly at first, but trust me, it can make all the difference.
Many people also find comfort and courage in their religion or spirituality. If this is something
that resonates with you, make sure to lean on your faith when you are feeling scared.
4. Start Off Small
Gathering courage doesn’t have to mean making significant life-altering decisions.
Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is take small steps in the right direction. This can
include signing up for that dance class you’ve always wanted to try or finally booking your
doctor’s appointment.
Breaking your courage and fear down into small, manageable steps can make the whole
process feel a lot less daunting. And as you start to accomplish these small goals, your
confidence will begin to grow.
It is important to remember that progress is key, not perfection. So don’t be too hard on
yourself if you don’t achieve everything you set out to do right away. Just take things one
step at a time and focus on moving forward.
5. Expect Setbacks
Sometimes, there is a greater power at work that is beyond our control. If you have been
working incredibly hard to find ways to find courage, but are met with disappointment or a
less-than-desired outcome, don’t be disheartened.
When this happens, it is important to remember setbacks are a normal and expected part of
life. They are not indicative of our worth as individuals. Instead of letting these moments
define us, use them as an opportunity to flourish when presented with adversity. Finding
courage in the face of fear was never going to be easy, but it is so worth it in the end.
Final Thoughts on Finding Courage in the Face of Fear
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to finding courage in the face of fear, as everyone’s
experience and journey will be different. However, we hope that the tips and advice provided
in this article have helped you understand courage and fear a little more.
Remember, when implementing ways to find courage, start small and be patient with
yourself. But, most importantly, don’t lose faith – you are capable of so much more than you
realize.
I recently welcomed Nicole Zasowski, author of ‘What if It’s wonderful?’, onto my podcast
Boldly Pursuing with Caitlin Henderson. Nicole has some incredible insights into finding the
courage to allow us to celebrate ourselves – no matter how big or small. If you enjoyed this
article, I highly recommend you check out this episode! Come and join Nicole and me as we
deep-dive into the faith and science behind finding courage.
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