5 quick methods for building courage

[coLLege kid07]

Hello everyone,

For the next 30 days or so I plan on greatly building my courage so I can deal better with situations in my life. My question to all of you is...what are some fast and easy methods for doing this. I've been controlled by fear for far to long in my life situation, and I'd like to get started on some quick and easy methods for overriding this control.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.

[ConquerSelf]

my five would be:

1. exceed your normal boundaries and limitations

2. focus on what you want to accomplish, and not possible negative outcomes (fear)

3. think for yourself, and stand by your beliefs

4. and dont worry about what others will say

5. eliminate all traces of fear and do what you want to do!

[Peek]

Courage can only start by facing your fears.
Look them in the eye. Understand why you have them in order to understand the behaviour you are acting out.
Accept also that fears are there to protect your being.
So what are they protecting?


Example:
a deep fear of losing people you love. Why? Because it hurts tremendously.
Reaction: being over protective or (worse) pushing loved ones away if they don't act positively on your advise.
The advise you give to keep them with you. Which is an normal egocentric act.

So your fear is pushing away what you don't want to lose, by facing it, understanding it, you can develop conciousness and the courage to give it a face.
Like 7 ugly funny dwarfs, if you have 7 fears.
Accept when they show up. Laugh about the visualisation you give them, by knowing how you use to react when seeing them.

Maybe this goes to simplistic, but courage can only be shown when fears are faced and accepted.

[ZHereford]

Hi coLLege kid07,

Here's an article I wrote on the very subject: Live a Life of Courage.


I hope it helps.

[Peek]

@ ZHereford,\: 10 points!

@coLLege kid07: I hope you find your answer, and do what you think to do.

@ Steve Pavlina: We can bring Courage into words and into actions on paper (or Forums) still I feel there is a lack of something. Please help me get this into your fine words to make it understandable.

I (and this is deep inside of me) feel that COURAGE is turning into words and actions instead of a way of being.
If you find yourself in a river you do not find yourself in a heroic of couragous situation, you just swim!
Afterwards, you see you were brave.
So don't think too much do what you want to get the best out of any situation. Don't think of being brave of a hero...
In those fine lines you will find yourself in a courage state of mind.

[Power]

Tip:
Depending on certain situations (when you are tying to confront fears or uncomfortable scenarios) if you can confront it with another member, friend, spouse, etc.... it would be a lot easier and not too daunting... since there is someone there with you. Then you repeat the process until you build confidence or courage in that area you are addressing.

[Kaspian]

I think that Steve's perspective on fear (at one point) was that you transcend it eventually. First, you do things you want to do whether you feel afraid or not. Over time, you see fear as a smaller and smaller obstacle, and he says that in time, it becomes a non-issue.

Here's my current view, as quoted from something I posted here a few weeks ago:

Originally Posted by Kaspian

Saying the words, "Feel the fear and do it anyway," has so little meaning as just words. It used to mean something like, "I'm somewhat afraid of this, and I don't really know why, but I'm going to do it anyway." And little changed, because that way of thinking is just a way for avoiding the internal work that needs to get done. At the moment, the phrase means, "Fully experience the fear, explore it, investigate it, find the fear underneath the fear, maybe the fear will burn itself out, but maybe not... and then do the thing anyway."

Fear is a signpost, a signal. Read the sign. The sign doesn't say: don't love, don't take the audition, don't set high goals, don't start working on those goals, etc. The sign says: look into this issue so that you can move forward with ease and power.

[Tim Brownson]

The quickest way without a doubt imho is anchoring.

Check this out

Another way is using submodalities, that's a little more complicated and you'll need some help, but there's an in-depth explanation in this free e-book.

Of course you also need to control your breath. If you do that you'll have control over your fear.

[jbsmith]

3 Critical factors...

1. Putting your fears into perspective. We can't ignore fear, it is programmed within us - but we can learn to look at it more objectively and rationally regaining our control over our fear eliminating it as an obstacle to growth

2. Clear, passionate, vivid image of the positive outcome we seek

3. Unshakable belief that we control our own destiny - not others AND with that, an understanding that resistance will be part of journey toward accomplishing our goals.

These 3 factors have allowed myself and several clients to reverse habits of procrastination and giving in to habits of courageous achievement.

Jeff

[MattFYF]

The fastest way to build courage is to do whatever you fear and look it right in the eyes. Hate being in front of crowds? Then that's what you must do.

There are other really quick methods you can do (such as dressing nicer, standing taller, talking more sternly, and so on), but those only mask the problem. Eventually that veneer of 'courage' breaks when you're confronted with something that really scares the hell out of you. Face what you fear, and it'll go away.

I used to be super shy, to the point where I didn't even want to order anything from the menu at fast food places because I hated to talk to the cashier. Fast forward five years later, and my #1 favorite thing to do on earth is perform on the piano in front of crowds and give shows. It's such a rush, it's exciting, I love every minute I'm on stage performing! I could never have closed that gap had I not buckled down and started tackling my fears and building courage through serious means.

Get to what makes you fearful, tackle it down, and your courage will grow! It's really simple to say, but hard to put into practice.

[Kaspian]

Sometimes looking at what you're afraid of can show you what you want most.

[Restrikted]

Zhereford, the quote you mentioned "Courage is being scared to death -- and saddling up anyway" pretty much sums up everything courage is, thanks for mentioning it (in your article anyway).

In my opinion, I don't think you need any tricks to help you build courage. Courage is being afraid to do something, but doing it anyways. It's as simple as that. It's something I've been working on this summer as well, and it's paying off. However, I have yet to build the courage to ask out an attractive girl...

[ZHereford]

Thanks Peek and Restrikted!

[hollowman]

First identify things that you realise you fearto do. Example, i used to have problem to start conversation in social function. I was also shy to ask questions.

Second make a conscious effort, a commitment that when the situation arises, you would 'force' yourself to do what you have fear doing.

Thirdly do it!

All the best to you!