We are afraid of things that threaten our survival, and our reaction is governed by an adrenaline response (which usually means that we are driven to ‘fight’ or ‘flight’). The physical effects of adrenaline include cold, clammy skin, as the blood is withdrawn to the vital organs to enable you to run away fast, the sensation of ‘butterflies’ in the stomach, shivering or trembling, and even chattering teeth. You know what they say: sometimes the bravest thing you can do is to jump forward with your eyes closed. And that it’s precisely because you’ll feel fear and anxiety that you’ll be given the opportunity to show bravery.

Notice when you're giving too much airtime to fear or to over-thinking, and redirect your attention. Rank your fears. Place the things you're afraid of or anxious about on a scale from 0-10. For example, “Going on a date with a stranger” might be an 8, while “going to a movie I've never seen before” might be a 2. Intolerance of uncertainty” causes a lot of anxiety. You may find it hard to accept that something negative may happen in a situation. You may overestimate the risks of a situation or avoid acting because you are worried about the consequences. To help you do this, I’ve collaborated with my brother Justin Brown to create an online personal responsibility workshop. We give you a unique framework for finding your best self and achieving powerful things.

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Conversely, when you don’t know why you’re fighting, you feel less motivated, and you’re less likely to undertake certain actions. You find more excuses for staying idle. In addition, know your options. As you’re considering responses to situations, ensure you’re aware of multiple right answers. If you’re in the middle of a debate about how to respond to a customer need, you may be best served to take a forceful approach which ensures yours and the company’s values are served. If you’re seeking to sell an idea at a high stakes meeting, you may meet with each member of the group one-on-one to garner support before you’re in front of the whole group. You can express courage in a frontal approach or in more nuanced strategies—and these will vary based on what’s optimal for a particular situation.

If you haven’t done so yet: take a look at this article in which I show you how you can master women in a way that will turn them on. Choose to help others. When you're afraid or stressed, your natural tendency may be to hide away from the world. However, psychological research suggests that this isn't the most helpful way to boost your courage. Many people display a “tend-and-befriend” tendency, where you react to a stressful situation by expressing care for others. Expressing care for others activates a state of bravery in your brain that can carry over into your own situations. The next time you're feeling fear, try to show someone else compassion or honor their strength. You may find your own increases too. [33] X Trustworthy Source Greater Good Magazine Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living Go to source Do you know anyone in your personal or professional life whose fearlessness and confidence you admire? Build a mentorship relationship with them. As we mentioned before, brave people face challenges without feeling intense fear. However, to become brave, they first had to exercise courage, and that means accepting that fear is part of life. Failure is an ominous word to many, but it shouldn’t be a bad thing. It can seem scary and, obviously, it isn’t the outcome most people hope for. But, failing can be a teaching moment along your journey to help you get closer to reaching your dreams.

On the other hand, if you keep training your courage muscle on a daily basis, you’re not only going to maintain it, you’re also going to reinforce it (especially if you make sure to increase the difficulty of your training by increasing the level of required bravery to take action). 4. Be more afraid of what you’re going to think of yourself than of the consequences of whatever action you’re taking: Been avoiding a confrontation? Or something you want to do in life, but haven’t had the courage? Learning how to be brave can be easier than you think. What is bravery, really? If you enjoyed this article (and even if you didn’t), you’ll love this other extensive post I recently published:

What steps forward can this definition show us? And what other tips might be useful when it comes to how to be brave? 1. Recognise that you’ve already been brave. Knowing what you’re afraid of helps you deal with these emotions. You get to understand what is causing it and when you do, it’s much easier to see that your fears can be mitigated.A BetterUp coach can help you develop the skills you need to overcome fear and reach your full potential. Soon, stretching yourself and trying new things will start to feel like a habit or second nature. That’s when a brave act like quitting your 9-5 to start up your own graphic design business won’t seem so scary. You’ll be far more accustomed to the uncertainty that comes with that decision and know that you’ve gotten through an uncomfortable situation before—and you’ll be able to do it again. 5. Accept the possibility of failure

And when they meet a dominant man who has the potential to satisfy their submission fantasies, it makes them desire him intensely. For example, if you are afraid of driving, control your fear of accidents by educating yourself with safe driving techniques. You can also install several safety devices on your vehicle to make yourself feel more secure. When doing some thinking about your fear, ask yourself what you are afraid of? Be real and honest with yourself. Mistakes will inevitably happen as you’re learning to be brave. Use those bumps along the way as learning experiences and maintain a positive mindset. You can be your own best cheerleader, so give yourself the grace and the encouragement you deserve. 4. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable The best way to become fearless is to put yourself in situations that intimidate you. Once you do them despite being afraid, fear will lose power over you. 5. Make being brave a habitLearning to accept what’s out of your control and just go with flow. As a result, you’ll grow more adaptable, and being able to change direction when necessary will instill even more bravery in your heart.