Embracing Courage in Your Daily Life
How do you make courage a habit? Overcoming your fears is an important part of your personal development, no matter how big or small the hurdle. Courage isn’t limited to skydiving or swimming with sharks.
In the hustle and bustle of today’s world, even the act of unplugging and finding stillness can be considered a courageous act. In this blog, we’ll help you find your own definition of courage, and explore some fun ways to make it a practice in our daily lives. Let’s dive in!
The Daily Practice of Courage
Big or small, day-to-day
Underwood & Underwood (active 1880 – c. 1950)[1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
When you think of courageous people, who comes to mind? People like Nelson Mandella, Joan of Arc, or Amelia Earheart, perhaps. People who, against all odds, faced their fears to make an incredible impact. However, courage isn’t restricted to monumental acts, and they certainly don’t start there. Courage can be built, day by day, like a skill that anyone can cultivate.
It’s important to remember you don’t need to feel confident to do something courageous. Uncertainty leads to fear, and fear leads to inaction. However, courage is what allows you to try something new and step outside of our comfort zone, which ultimately builds confidence.
Courage must be built like a muscle, and research has shown that bravery is a skill that can be learned, strengthened, and mastered with repeated practice. In moments of uncertainty, lean on your courage to take action. This will inspire confidence in yourself, which leads to better outcomes for your skills, abilities, and lifestyle.
For some, courage may be taking a big leap of faith; for others, courage may mean saying no in order to set healthy boundaries for yourself. Be willing to reflect and step outside of your comfort zone, however big or small that step may be. Here are some more ways to practice courage in your life:
BE HONEST ABOUT HOW YOU’RE FEELING
Sometimes it can feel scary or vulnerable to know our needs and communicate those with others. Courage looks like speaking up, sharing your opinion, and being unafraid to share your perspective. This releases you from the pressure of always seeming “put together.”
SAY NO TO CLIENTS AND OVERCOMMITMENTS
Setting boundaries takes courage. We need to know our bandwidth in order to protect our time and energy. There is power in saying no to things, when reasonable to do so, but it requires your mindful effort.
SAY YES TO NEW THINGS AND NEW EXPERIENCES
If it scares you, do it. Courage can often look like trying something new. It can be checking skydiving off that bucket list, but it can also be signing up for Brazilian dance classes, or even trying cooking a new type of cuisine.
PRACTICE COURAGE IN THE KITCHEN
Eating foods that fuel long term health and happiness may not be the primary focus in today’s society, but food is truly more than a quick fix. We can choose to courageously step out of the whirlwind of diets and processed foods, and instead, choose to eat in a way that nourishes our bodies and minds.
By making this choice, we can enjoy the love, connection, and nourishment that food can provide. That is where our courage pays off, now and in our long term health. Here are a few ways to step into courage with your eating habits:
Make a homemade version of your favorite order-in meal.
Try one new food a month: a great place to source new ingredients is your local farmers market or CSA.
Set the table, whether for one or a whole crew, and enjoy dinner at the table instead of in front of the TV, at least three times per week.
*Bonus points for playing some music and lighting candles!
Lean Into What Your Body is Telling You
Body Trust & Intuitive Eating
Courage can also mean trusting your body to tell you how, when, and what to eat. Check out the Body Trust & Intuitive Eating Wellness Workshop in the Nutrition section of our full Wellness Workshop menu!
FIND COMFORT IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE
By actively listening, fully engaging, and living presently, we can get out of our heads and be free to express your true intentions. These are the teachings of improvisation – while well-known for entertainment, improvisation can also be used in the workplace to foster strong teamwork and lead to true innovation.
Improvisation challenges us to not think about the future, or dwell on the past... and that takes courage (and lots of practice). Improvisation is about getting out of your own head, because it’s only when you aren’t worried about embarrassing yourself you can react freely and openly.
Try booking an improv workshop for your team, to see what connections and innovations you can create together, when you’re fully open and listening to one another.
In conclusion, courage is truly a practice—we may not get it right every time, but we can use courage to build and strengthen our personal confidence. When we ignore the many opportunities to practice courage in our daily lives, we are ignoring the ways in which we can be true to ourselves, and step into the greatness of living our lives as authentically as possible.
