Beyond “Whimp” Cultivating Courage (Part II)
This is the second part of the series on how to build your courage muscle.
One of my favorite saying about courage from Nelson Mandela:
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Firstly, courage isn’t the absence of fear. Secondly, we can triumph over fear. Finally, by conquering our fears, we cultivate the courage muscle.
1) Have Some Healthy Dose of Fears.
On the one hand, fear can be your indicator. It can tell you what action to take. But, on the other hand, rarely, there can be some real dangers in life.
Your job is to differentiate real fears from imaginary ones.
For example, a fear of bugs and spiders is imaginary fear. In fact, it is a learned fear. You can decrease it dramatically. While being chased by a tiger or if someone is chasing you with a gun is a real fear. But honestly, what was the last time either chased you?
So, living courageously means dealing with some level of fear but taking action anyway.
2) Improve Your Game.
You are assuming that a tiger is not chasing you. It is time to “up” your game. Sometimes you fuck things up. Other times you fall. Stop, regroup, figure out what you need, and work on it. The best way to improve your life is by facing your fears and working through your obstacles.
“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.”
Currently, I am scared of walking with my dog due to my poor response time. So, I am working on my hand-eye coordination to overcome it. As a result, we take a break from walks for the next few months until I get better.
What scares you the most? Which actions are you taking?
3) Face Death When It Comes.
“Everyone dies. Not everyone really lives”
You can do many things to live a healthier life filled with adventure and love. But, all and consistent steps lead to the most significant changes.
Commit to doing what you love, to explore your passions.
Choose a few things you fear the most and create your game plan you want to do before you die.
Get busy living and face death when it comes!
To Sum Up:
1 thought on “How To Build Your Courage Muscle in 3 Simple Steps”
Great article Anna, facing all that you wrote about is a natural part of life and how we face it can either cause anxieties or we accept them and live our lives to the fullest!