How to Develop Courage
Why Develop Courage?
To answer this question, it is important to know what the word courage means. Courage derives from the Latin word cor meaning “heart” which is recognized as the epicenter of feelings. Merriam-Webster defines courage as “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” By the definition and etymology of the word, and to keep it simple, let’s discuss courage as a “type of strength developed from within”.
So why is courage something that we should develop? After all, we’re not gladiators fighting to the death in an arena or warriors wielding swords of justice, unless you spend your free time LARPing. Most of us (meaning those of you who likely read this blog and myself) are working class citizens with pretty cushy lives when compared to ancient Japanese Samurai or Roman Gladiators. I’m going to make a pretty bold statement here in saying that courage can improve almost every aspect of your life. If you have courage, you are going to move up the corporate ladder faster than your peers. You will be more capable of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and fitness routine. You will even be better at making decisions that impact your life and the lives of those around you, especially those closest to you.
Is it safe to say that we can all see some benefit to developing courage? If you answered “no” log off now. If you answered “yes” please continue reading.
How to Develop Courage
This is the tricky part, right? The part where you have to ski down a double black diamond run if you’ve never been on skis before or do a 360 double back flip on a mountain bike like Travis Pastrana if you’ve just barely removed your training wheels. If you want to try these things, I’m sure they would also help develop courage, just not the kind of courage (read: stupidity) that I am talking about. In fact, you don’t have to do anything crazy to develop courage. You just need to challenge your level of comfort.
What I mean by this is if you like nice hot showers in the morning because your spouse tends to steal your rightful portion of the blankets during the night, turn the water temperature down to a cool 70° or so. That’s about the temperature of the ocean water in San Diego in August. That feels good, right? This will too, though probably not until after you get out and think back on it later with a different perspective. Another way you could accomplish this is to talk to a stranger if you’re generally a pretty timid person. I mean small talk here, not creeping on them asking them personal questions before they even realize you are talking to them. Say “hello”. Ask how their day is going. It sounds dumb but reference the weather or politics ask what their favorite place to eat is in the area if you have to. Just say something.
Essentially what I’m telling you here is this: make yourself uncomfortable. Put yourself in situations where you don’t feel at ease. Let’s go back to the Merriam-Webster definition here for a moment. “Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” Sounds like what I just said you should do to develop courage, doesn’t it? Let me share a little secret with you. In order to develop a skill or ability you have to practice that skill or ability. It’s just one of those things. You’re not going to make it to the NBA if you never practice how to shoot, dribble, defend or fall down at the slightest tap. It’s just not going to happen and it is just as true with being courageous.
My Promise to You
I’m not going to promise you anything because this is the internet and I know that will come back to bite me. However, I would be very surprised if you did not see an increase in your courageous behavior by continually putting yourself in situations that require you to step up and give a little more of yourself than you would normally. This is a life-long endeavor so don’t expect to do this for 6 months and be courageous for the rest of your life. Start down the path of courage and remember these wise words 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.”
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