Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s a response to fear. It would be a mistake to assume that a courageous individual is without fear. If there is no fear, courage is not necessary.
How much richer and fuller would your life be if you were more courageous? What would you be doing now, that you aren’t doing, because of fear and uncertainty? How can you become more courageous?
First, courage is not the same as risky and reckless behavior. Courage has a calculated and intentional substance to it. A courageous act is one that moves you toward your goal. This means you must have a clearly defined goal that is worth achieving. In the face of fear or uncertainty, you are more likely to choose courage if you understand that it will move you toward your goal.
Next, it is easier to choose courage if you understand the risks and the rewards associated with acting and moving ahead. What is the worst outcome of acting? What is the best outcome? What will I gain by moving ahead and what will I lose? Often, fear and uncertainty lead us to hesitate when the risk is low, and the benefit is huge.
Having options if you run into unanticipated obstacles will also increase the likelihood that you will choose courage. If you are new in your career or position, spending time studying the available resources will expand your knowledge and equip you with options. It’s important that you acquire as many ideas as possible that would help you pivot in the face of adversity. Being resourceful increases your courage.
Courage, like any other skill, if chosen and used consistently, eventually becomes a habit. The habit of choosing courage in the face of fear and uncertainty sets apart those considered high achievers. Talk with anyone who has experienced a high degree of success in some area of their life, and they will tell you that choosing to be courageous in response to fear and uncertainty has been a significant piece of that success.
Ask yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, how courageous you are currently in a particular area of your life where you want to progress. If your answer is a 9 or a 10, congratulations you are among the elite. For most of us however, if we are truly honest, we can identify a gap between where we are and where we want to be when it comes to courage. Use these suggestions to help you be more intentional and more prepared to choose courage.