Cultivating Courage

Courage is acting despite fear. Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”

When we think about courage, we often think of the physical bravery of firefighters, emergency response teams, and warriors as they go into battle. But there are more types of courage too: the moral courage of those who stand up for what they believe, the mental courage of those who tackle hard learning challenges, and the emotional courage of those who keep trying in the face of adversity.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” -Mary Anne Radmacher

When we detect potential danger or perceived threat, fear is automatically triggered. A cascade of physical reactions results: the release of stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, increased heart rate and blood pressure, rapid breathing, and muscle tension. The primitive part of the brain takes over, hijacking the thinking part so that we can attack or run quickly. This survival mechanism that evolved to keep us alive at times when we might encounter a sabertooth tiger, is helpful when we are in real danger. However, it can prevent us from tackling hard challenges and learning. Trevor Ragan describes where fear comes from in his TED talk, How to “overcome” fear. He goes into more detail about how to get out of your comfort zone in another TED talk, Learning like a jungle tiger.

Prepare for moments of fear that trigger some common responses to perceived threat:
• Fight – confront. Pick battles wisely.
• Flight – avoid. Face challenges realistically.
• Freeze – shut down. Learn to use SOS to insert a pause before responding.
• Fawn – appease. Develop self-confidence in abilities.

FACE FEAR

• Failure = learning
• Acknowledge it
• Calming breaths
• Exposure to experience
• Delegate to backseat

While failure is always a risk when trying something new, great things are never accomplished without embracing discomfort. Many famous people have experienced failures before they succeeded. Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” When failure is encountered, the best strategy is to analyze what happened, adjust, and perservere.

Recognize when fear is present, without allowing it to be in the driver’s seat. In Big Magic: creative living beyond fear, author Elizabeth Gilbert writes a letter to fear telling it that it can come along for the ride, but it is not allowed to drive. The physiological responses to fear are similar to excitement, so it can help to shift emotions to excitement by viewing problems as challenges and uncertain experiences as possibilities for adventure and opportunities.

CULTIVATE COURAGE

• Be open to challenges
• Rally strengths
• Adjust mindset
• View uncertainty as opportunity
• Expect discomfort
• Rely on resilience

Accept the reality that life is full of challenges and uncertainty. We cannot always avoid discomfort, and sometimes it is inevitable as we proceed on the path towards our goals. It often means getting out of our comfort zone. We can prepare by adopting helpful mindsets like a growth mindset and experimental mindset. It helps to know your strengths and build resilience.

TED Talks: “Proof” by Adam Kucharski, TED talk Why does uncertainty bother us so much?, Embracing uncertainty by David Murray, The art of discomfort by Leigh Bardugo.

BE BOLDER

• Be curious
• Overcome doubt
• Live at the edge
• Defeat resistance
• Embrace change
• Resist constant comfort

The Flywheel Effect from Jim Collins begins with curiosity. Anne-Laure Le Cunff on the Triple Check method for overcoming resistance at Big Think. “How Change Really Works” by Kristy Ellmer, TED talk The key to navigating change with confidence. “The Other Side of Change” by Maya Shankar, TED talk Why change is so scary, and how to unlock its potential. “Switch” by Chip and Dan Heath, “Leading Change” by John Kotter (not analyze, think, change – but see, feel, change)

With courage, we can re-claim agency to make choices based on awareness. Learn more about overcoming fear and combating procrastination.

Books and TED Talks

Amazon affiliate links to books provide a small commission to help support the Daily PlanIt.

• “How to Be Bold” by Ranjay Gulati, presentation How to be bold, Now is the Time for Courage at HBR
• “C.O.U.R.A.G.E.” by Christopher O.H. Williams, TED talk Seven choices for a courageous life
• “Leading With Emotional Courage” by Peter Bregman, TED talk “I Don’t Know“
• TED talk Courage: Learning into fear by Matt Cuccaro
• “Do Hard Things” by Steve Magnuss (one of five books to build bulletproof courage)
• “We Can Do Hard Things” by Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach
• “The Flipside” by Michelle Mace Curran, Fast Company article

RESOURCES

• Turn fears into Tiny Experiments
• Courage at Authentic Happiness
• Courage quotes at wellbeing.gmu.edu and at Psychology Today
• 7 Habits of Emotionally Courageous People from Nick Wignall
• Videos from VIA United in Strengths on Bravery and Courage

Explore more TED talks by speakers who are also authors at TED Talk Book Discussion.

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.