How To Cultivate Courage
Breaking free
Courage ignites the fire in our hearts, freeing us from limitations imposed upon us by our minds. Bravery reveals what we thought we were afraid of and perseverance allows us to gradually exceed what we once thought possible. Honesty—the courageous pursuit of the truth—keeps us from losing ourselves in webs of lies that minds conjure up. A vital, colorful, and vibrant life awaits those who courageously follow their hearts. The effort is well worth it, so set your heart ablaze.
Bravery
Rather than eliminating fears, bravery brings them to light, allowing us to see what we’re actually afraid of and not what our creative minds conjure up. Those who act bravely develop a relationship with uncertainty and ambiguity, and thus become more tolerable of them. In a life with no shortage of unknowns, developing this tolerance is necessary for finding peace.
Prompts
What makes me uncomfortable?
Do I embrace discomfort and uncertainty or cower away?
Practices
Use discomfort as a cue to investigate rather than ignorantly avoid. Does the discomfort stand between you and the person you want to become?
Persistence
Persistence is a strength I struggle with quite a bit. Better to struggle with it then not struggle at all, I suppose. I see it as a negotiation between the present self and the person I want to become. As things become more difficult, the voice of the present self becomes louder, drowning the voice of the person I want to become. Cultivating persistence is all about finding ways to balance this negotiation; to give your future, and all those who you’ll be of service to, a voice.
Prompts
How often do I give in to the voice that tells me to quit? How often do I push past it?
Why should I push myself to become better? Who, or what, depends on it?
Practices
Mental endurance exercises (meditation, reading, learning, deep work, etc.)
Physical endurance exercises (running, swimming, yoga, etc.)
Find your why. The more profound your why, the more profound your will.
Honesty, Integrity, Authenticity
These strengths all relate to keeping an honest relationship between yourself and your environment. Integrity relates to maintaining an honest relationship with your external environment; authenticity with your internal environment. When we lie, these environments become less coherent and harder to navigate, and eventually we get lost and pay the price.
Prompts
When was the last time I lied? Is there anything I'm actively lying about right now?
Do I sincerely do what is right even when there's a cost?
Do I represent myself honestly to myself and others?
Do I seek distractions to avoid dealing with internal incoherence?
Practices
Tell the truth. Save yourself the energy by not having to reconcile your lies with reality or remember what you've said in the past. Strive to inhabit the same reality as others.
Take a break from distractions and allow yourself to get bored. Notice what thoughts arise.
Be punctual.
Vitality
Lack of vitality manifests as listlessness, which is generally accompanied by anxiety and depression. A common misconception is that anxiety and depression are problems. They are not problems. They are solutions the mind and body produce to warn you of a problematic environment. When anxious and depressed feelings are drowned out with quick temporary fixes, the problems that gave rise to them remain; that is, we continue taking damage in the problematic environment. We naturally gravitate towards quick fixes, which allow us to shy away from performing more effortful but lasting fixes. Quick fixes extinguish our flames, leaving us feeling dull and grey. Do the hard thing, discover what the problems really are, and face those problems with courage. A life of vibrancy and color awaits if you do.
Prompts
Do I feel alive?
When do I feel least alive?
When do I feel most alive?
Am I neglecting problems by opting for superficial fixes?
Practices
Diet, sleep, exercise, socialize
Diet: whole foods
Sleep: 8 hours
Exercise:
cardiovascular
strength
flexibility
Socialize: build meaningful connections
Be of service to others.
If you have questions you ask yourself or practices you engage with that you find work well, I’d love to hear about them. Feel free to let me know in the comments.