How To Be Brave? In Three Parts Making You the Bravest Person

 

Do you desire more audacity?

 Courage is not something you are born with. Over time, you gain courage and gain life experience. Even if you are afraid, you can be courageous by acting as your heart tells you and challenging new experiences. It may take a little time and a lot of patience, but with a positive attitude and helpful thoughts, you will find yourself more courageous than you thought.

Part 1 of How to be Brave.

 Accepting where you are

1. Recognize that you are afraid

(how to be brave)

Courage does not mean that you are never afraid, it means that you are afraid but still move forward even in your most terrible moments. Emotions often become stronger when you try to push them away. Instead, acknowledge that you feel what you feel. Being honest about your feelings can help you deal with them better.

Say it out loud. Putting into words what you're afraid of can reveal it and make it seem more everyday. You don't have to tell anyone else, you only need to tell yourself.

: You can also try journaling. Write privately but honestly about your feelings.

Don't judge yourself. “I am a coward.” Don't judge him and focus on how you feel in the moment. "I'm afraid of surgery tomorrow."

2. Emotion check

(how to be brave)

You need to understand that your feelings are normal.Fear starts in the amygdala, an area of ​​the brain sometimes called the "lizard brain" because it deals with primal emotions and everyone experiences them.Judging yourself based on your emotions is useless and will not lead to courage.

It might be beneficial to read about people who have fought and conquered their anxieties. This can help you understand that you are not alone in your fears, and it will be easier for you to accept these feelings for yourself.

3. Name your fears

(how to be brave)

Sometimes we're not even sure what we're afraid of. This uncertainty can increase anxiety, which makes us even more fearful. Take some time to figure out what is causing these fears. The Check can be useful. Be as specific and detailed as possible.

For example: “I am afraid. I feel it all over my body. I am sick. I'm not sure why I'm terrified right now. The reason for this fear could be concerns about your partner's health, concerns about keeping your job, or a feeling that the Lakers won't win a championship this year.

Consulting with a mental health professional may also be helpful. Many people believe the myth that therapy is only for people with huge, insurmountable problems, but this is simply not true. If you have a persistent fear problem, a therapist or counsellor can help you identify the cause and develop strategies for dealing with the problem.

4. Examine Your Fears

(how to be brave)

We tend to be afraid when we feel threatened or harmed to ourselves (or others).

Some concerns are valid, while others do more harm than good. Take a closer look at your fears and decide if they are good or bad for you.

For example, being afraid of skydiving when you have never learned to skydive is a legitimate fear. You can get hurt because you don't have the training or skills in this area. But, by taking classes and knowing more about skydiving, you may get past these anxieties.

You may still feel some fear when you're on a plane, but you'll do everything you can to control it.

On the other hand, being afraid to finish a book for fear of what others will judge is not very helpful. You can't control other people's reactions, but you can control their behaviour. The only thing holding you back in this case is fear itself.

Your worries might be global and enduring.

Step back and observe the situation. For example, "I'm not brave enough to travel alone" suggests that your fears are innate and permanent. Instead, focus on what you can do to overcome this fear. “I am afraid to travel alone. You can explore your destination so that you feel more comfortable when you arrive. You can take self-defence classes to get stronger.

5. Accepting Vulnerabilities

(how to be brave)

A common reason we are afraid is that we are afraid of being vulnerable. Vulnerability includes uncertainty, pain, or the potential for danger. But vulnerability also opens you up to love, connection, and empathy. As you learn to embrace vulnerability as a feature of life, you're less inclined to worry about your anxieties.

Realising that everything has a certain amount of danger is one approach to be brave. Everything you do during the day, from getting out of bed to eating dinner, carries some level of risk. But that doesn't stop you from living your life. As well as what you are afraid of.

Another very prevalent anxiety is the fear of failing.

Try to think of things in terms of what you can learn from them, not in terms of your failures or successes. So everything is useful in one way or another. Even if it's not what you expect.

6. Focus on the things you can change.

(how to be brave)

You can't help but be afraid of something. It is an emotional response that cannot be changed. But you can control your actions.

Focus your attention on the action, not the involuntary reaction.

You cannot control the outcome of any operation. You can only control what you do. Let go of the idea that you have to control the outcome of an action - you cannot control it. Focus on the action, not the outcome.

Part 2 of How to be Brave.

 Building Confidence

1. Find a role model

(how to be brave)

If you are having trouble finding a way out of a situation, imitate others who are experiencing problems. Not only does this give you a good perspective ("wow, at least my problems aren't that bad"), but it can inspire you to be more courageous.

: Find role models among people you already know.

When you feel comfortable enough, ask them how they handled situations that required courage. Read about bold historical figures. Find life stories of people famous for their courageous resistance against adversity, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman or Joan of Arc, freedom fighters, mobsters and more.

2. Develop psychological resilience. in fearful or difficult situations

(how to be brave)

But mental resilience is more than just a tough frontline. To be truly resilient, you should practice:

Flexibility. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.This is the ability to escape protection in case something goes wrong. The ability to find new approaches to a problem or situation.

Recognize the possibility of learning in all situations and develop flexibility by cultivating curiosity rather than anxiety about accidents.

Engagement. In order to be brave in any situation, you have to face it. Truly brave people study the situation and decide how to approach it, rather than trying to evade or ignore the problem. Breaking a situation down into smaller elements can help you deal with anxious situations.

You might try to present the best case scenario, not the worst case scenario.

Fortitude. Things can't always go smoothly. A brave person understands this and gets up when he falls. You can assert yourself by identifying the actions required to take each step.

It's much easier to face failure if you know that the next step you need to take is achievable and not a monumental task.

3. Challenging Negative Thoughts

(how to be brave)

All of us get stuck in thoughts or "cognitive distortions" from time to time. If you find yourself thinking negatively about yourself or a situation, challenge yourself to see what evidence actually exists for those thoughts, or reframe them in a positive way.

Generalization is a common misnomer.

For example, "I'm a coward" is a generalizing statement about myself that is not true. You can be fearful, but that doesn't make you a coward.

Pay attention to your current feelings. Example: "I'm afraid of an important date tomorrow because I'm afraid my girlfriend won't like me." This will help you avoid an unhealthy (and inaccurate) self-image.

Catastrophe is another distortion that can trigger a fear response. When you catastrophize, you inflate an event or experience beyond control. For example: “When I passed my boss in the lobby, he didn't even look at me. she must be mad at me. I must have done something wrong.

She can fire me. Obviously, this is a worst-case scenario and highly unlikely.

: Challenge this thinking by requiring you to examine the evidence for each step of the assumption yourself. As an illustration, my boss didn't even glance at me as I passed.

She might not like me. She may also be distracted by something else. She may not have seen me. It makes no sense to assume that she is mad at me. Before I get really upset, I'll ask her if everything is okay.

4. Rejection of perfectionism

(how to be brave)

Perfectionism is the cause of many fears. We may be so afraid that our efforts won't be "perfect" that we don't even try. It's a common myth that perfectionism equates to healthy ambition or the pursuit of excellence. In fact, perfectionism is trying to keep us from losing or failing, which is simply impossible in life.

Perfectionism can lead you to be so hard on yourself that you consider what you have actually accomplished as a "failure".

For example, a perfectionist might consider a B in history a "failure" because it was not a perfect grade. A student who is fair to himself may consider this a success because he did his best in class. Focusing on the process rather than the outcome can help you overcome perfectionism.

Perfectionism can often lead you to be ashamed of yourself because you focus only on your own flaws. It is very difficult to be brave when you are ashamed of yourself.

Success does not result from perfectionism. In fact, many people who consider themselves perfectionists are less successful than those who accept the possibility of failure and see it as a learning experience.

5. Start your day with self-affirmation

(how to be brave)

Self-affirmation is a phrase or mantra that has personal meaning to you. Can be repeated to express kindness and acceptance towards oneself.

It may sound silly, but asserting yourself can actually boost your confidence over time.

For example, "Today I accept myself as I am." Or you could say something like, "I deserve to be loved."

: You can also focus your assertiveness on building courage. For example, you can say something like “I can be brave today” or “I am strong enough to handle anything that challenges me today”.

Remember that assertiveness must be self-centered.

Keep in mind that you have no power over other individuals. An effective self-affirmation would be something like, "Today, I'll try my best to deal with my concerns. I can't do more than I can. I can't control how other people act and react to me."

State your statements in a positive way.

Humans respond badly to negative remarks, even if they are useful. Instead of saying, “I will not give in to my fears today,” say, “Today I can face my fears because I am strong.”

6. Free yourself from your fears

(how to be brave)

Sometimes it can be helpful to think of your fears as separate from yourself. Visualizing your fear as a separate entity can help you better control your fear.

For example, you can imagine that your fear is a little turtle.The tortoise conceals her head behind its shell whenever she is scared, rendering her helpless and blind. To combat this, picture a fear turtle and urge it to focus on what you can control rather than worrying about the things you can't.

Using humorous or comical imagery can take away some of the power of fear and make it fun. (Didn't it work in Harry Potter too?Riddikulus!)

7. Ask a friend for help. Be with those who are committed to weakness and courage, not those who let fear rule them.

(how to be brave)

There is "emotional contagion" among people.

It turns out that you can also "catch" emotions from those around you, just like you can catch a cold. It's important to surround yourself with accepting and courageous people. If you primarily interact with other people who are afraid of something and do nothing to deal with that fear, you may have more difficulty overcoming your own fear.

8. Attempting difficult tasks

(how to be brave)

Success in difficult tasks can increase self-confidence.

Use the situation as a learning opportunity even if you don't feel comfortable doing it right away and keep in mind that you may study as much as you need to.

For example, you could set goals to learn to play the guitar, cook fine French food, and get a scuba diving license. Your creativity is the only restriction.

Set goals that are personally important to you and work on them. Constant comparison to others is a proven way to lose your self-confidence. Don't worry about what other people think of your goals.

9. Mindfulness Practice

(how to be brave)

One of the reasons many people struggle to muster up courage is to “turn off” the pain we and others experience in order to avoid feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration. The practice of mindfully accepting your present experiences without judgment can help you accept positive as well as negative emotions, which can help you feel more courageous.

Mindfulness meditation can be a great way to practice these skills. You can learn a lesson from it or teach yourself.

Part 3 of How to be Brave.

 Practicing Courage Daily

1. Practicing Accepting Uncertainty

(how to be brave)

Uncertainty is the root of many fears.

However, you can learn to tolerate uncertainty by gradually integrating it into your daily experience. It enhances your confidence and ability to deal with uncertain situations, enabling you to act boldly.  

"uncertainty intolerance" causes a lot of anxiety. It can be difficult to understand that negative things can happen in a situation. You may overestimate the risks of a situation or take no action because you are concerned about the consequences.

Keep a journal throughout the day and record when you feel anxious, anxious or afraid. Write in detail what you think is causing these feelings. Also note how you are currently responding to them.Rank fears. Put what you fear or worry about on a scale of 0 to 10.

For example, "Dating a stranger" might be 8, and "Going to a movie you've never seen before" might be a 2. Risk setting. For example, choose one of the fears assessed below and practice it, such as "going to a new restaurant." You might end up hating the restaurant, but that's okay. It's important to prove to yourself that you can brave the uncertainty and come out stronger on the other side.

Record your answers in your diary. Whenever you face your fear, record what happened. What did you do? What did you feel while doing this job? How did you react to these feelings?

How did it go?

2. Make specific plans

(how to be brave)

It's easy to get scared when you don't know what to do. Break down problems and situations into smaller, achievable tasks.

: Anticipating the obstacles you may face helps you to act boldly in the face of difficulties.

Think about the obstacles you may face and create an action plan to overcome them.

State your plans and goals in positive language.According to research, framing your objectives positively increases your chances of success more than working alone.Keep aiming according to results. Remember that you can only control your own actions and reactions, not the actions and reactions of others.

Set goals and make plans that you can achieve through your work.

3. Deciding to Help Others

(how to be brave)

When you are afraid or stressed, your natural tendency is to hide from the world. Yet, psychological studies indicate that this isn't the most effective strategy for boosting bravery. By expressing concern for others in stressful situations, many people tend to be "caring and friendly."

Expressing concern for others activates a state of courage in your brain that can lead to your situation. The next time you feel fear, show compassion for someone or respect their strength. You can even find your own multiplier.

Empathy and a sense of community are boosted when the neurotransmitter oxytocin, which regulates the social welfare system, is active. This system also inhibits the brain regions that process fear.

The brain's reward system releases a powerful neurotransmitter called dopamine, which increases motivation and reduces fear. Dopamine can make you more optimistic and bolder.

The brain's tuning system relies on the neurotransmitter serotonin. Your self-control and intuition are linked to serotonin, which means you feel bolder and capable of making smarter decisions.

4. Be Courageous for 20 Seconds

(how to be brave)

Sometimes it's so hard to imagine being brave for an entire day or even an hour. Practice being brave for just 20 seconds at a time. You can do anything in just 20 seconds. When you complete the first set, start another. And another.

And another. These little pieces come together.

5. Consider Your Decision

(how to be brave)

If you are faced with a bold but difficult decision, take some time to think about it. If you're very sure of what you need to do, you can use it to boost your courage in the moment.

Confidence is a major component of courage. Ask yourself:

Is this correct? The right one isn't always the simplest or the most popular. Make your decision based on your conscience.

Is this the only way to resolve the situation?

Consider whether there are other ways to solve the problem. Are there any workarounds I haven't thought of yet?

Are you prepared to accept the repercussions? If the action you are about to take has devastating consequences, take some more time to think about it. Can you deal with the worst case scenario?

Why are you making this decision? Why is this important to you? What if not?

You can also create a pros and cons list for each course of action you can take. What is exactly the worst that may occur?

What could be better? Overthinking not only gets in the way of action, it can also cause stress and make you feel like there's nothing you can do.Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and continue with what you have already decided.

Don't hesitate and focus on overcoming it.

Affirmations can be repeated while performing this movement if it helps. Confidence is key to passing the first stage. If you keep taking action, you will continue to be more courageous.

7. Until you get a fake

(how to be brave)

Learning to tolerate uncertainty and discomfort in certain situations is just constant learning. You won't be brave overnight. However, research has shown that having a "brave face" can help you become brave even when you're not feeling brave.

Don't wait until you "feel" the courage. Often, even the people we think are brave (firefighters, soldiers, doctors) don't feel brave at the moment.

They just know what to do and choose to do it.

On the other hand, believing that it cannot be done is likely to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Belief in yourself can help or hinder your work.

Conclusion:

What is or how to be brave: Well acknowledge your fears, develop a plan to face them, start small, get support from friends and family, and celebrate your successes.

These all steps are for you, to make you the bravest person.

Visit our webpage for more great contents, THANKS!