08 August 2023

It takes courage to be a leader, to make tough decisions and to stand out from the crowd. Even if you have fears that have kept you from leadership roles so far doesn’t mean that you can’t overcome them and achieve positions of leadership in the near future and show others the way. 

Each decision you make in your personal and business life is a testament to your courage. Something as simple as refusing a calorie rich food to eat because you want to stay fit takes a certain amount of courage if you have gnawing cravings for sugar, salt or fatty foods. 

Other decisions you must make may be especially monumental to you and require the courage of a lion. A decision to quit a high-paying job that supports your current lifestyle in order to follow your life’s dream is a major decision that takes courage – and planning. Often some decisions may seem unimportant in the moment, but later you may see that they were life-changing and the turning point for you.

Courage promotes confidence and self-esteem and builds a framework in which you can accomplish pretty much anything you set out to do. Think of the genius, Stephen Hawking, and how much he overcame to become one of the leading scientists and writers of our time.

It must have taken a tremendous amount of courage for Hawking to work through physical disabilities and manage to keep the passion for his work. Another great leader of courage was King George VI of England who overcame a speech impediment to give one of the greatest speeches at a time when the world needed it most.

Work Through Your Fears to Have Courage

Working through your greatest fears to have the courage to do something remarkable can lead you to success. Below are some steps you can take in your own life that will help you build the courage you need to accomplish anything: 

Create a Positive Environment 

Surround yourself with people who are positive and who believe in you. Building skills and talents needs those who will bolster your self-confidence and increase your self-worth. 

Maintain a Positive Attitude 

Dealing with issues that challenge you can be turned into an opportunity for success. Try to think of each challenge in your life as an opportunity to use your skills and instincts to overcome and triumph. 

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone 

You’ll never develop courage if you’re in a rut. Each day, find something challenging and outside of what you normally do and give it a try. When you open yourself to various situations outside of your comfort zone, you learn to cope.

Don’t Let Fear Hold Your Back

Humans can become fearful of anything. Even situations that are supposed to be happy can become fearful if you over-think the situation. Get rid of those “what ifs” in your mind and replace them with positive thoughts. 

Enjoy the Struggle

Yes, you can enjoy the challenges that life brings if you know that it’s building the courage inside you that will spur you on to bigger and better things. Life’s challenges only serve to make you a stronger and more courageous person.

Each time you accomplish something or overcome a fear, your confidence will grow stronger. The courage of a true leader is accomplished by taking small steps rather than overcoming one big challenge, so take the steps to build your courage and you will be amazed at the results.

‘Courage Defines Me’ – A Daily Affirmation

Below is an affirmation that you can take with you and use it on a daily basis to reinforce your purpose and to help enhance your courage as you take on new challenges:

Courage defines me.

Life rewards courage and my life is an example of my bravery. My decisions reflect the fact that I am brave and capable. However, I also recognise when it is wise to be cautious. 

I consider the long-term impact of my decisions and act boldly. I feel a sense of responsibility to fully utilise my capabilities.

Others admire my courage. While they avoid fear, I welcome it as a chance to stretch myself and expand my courageousness as I overcome it. Fear is my friend, but it never visits for very long. 

When I am in new situations and feel uncertain, I can feel my courage swelling within me. Once I have this feeling, I can act with certainty and comfort. 

Each time I do something new, I am pleasantly surprised by how capable I am. 

New experiences provide opportunities to exercise and strengthen my courage, and I welcome them. Such experiences grow and enhance my other skills as well. Others recognise my many capabilities and quietly admire them. 

When I go to bed, I remember all the things I do each day that demonstrate my bravery. This feels good and increases my ability to act courageously. Every day I am stronger and more capable. 

Today, I am ready to tackle a challenge. I am comfortable in my capability to handle this task and look forward to the experience. My life is an example of my courageousness.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1.     What challenges am I avoiding?

2.     Why am I avoiding them?

3.     How can I motivate myself to take action to overcome them?

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