3 Ways to Develop Courage

Courage, as I learned in 33 years practicing martial arts, is not having the guts to fight someone twice your size. That is relatively easy. Courage is to do the RIGHT thing, even when you do not want to do it; yet you still do it, because it is the right thing to do. It takes far more courage to walk away from a fight when you are angry. It takes even greater courage to show mercy and forgiveness. I think one of the greatest forms of courage comes when you admit you are wrong and ask for forgiveness.

Here are 3 ways to develop your courage:

1) List all the fights you got into in the past year. Not physical fights (hopefully). The argument with a friend or family member, boss or colleague. Who on that list deserves an apology? Give it to them TODAY. Who on the list doesn’t deserve an apology? Extend an olive branch. Doing these things takes courage and the best way to build a strength is by exercising that which needs developing

2) Face up to a fear. Been afraid of the boss, a colleague a relative? Write down some notes of what you want to discuss with the boss and go face her or him. It may help to open with , “It may only be me…” or “May I have a heart-to-heart talk with you?” It takes guts to face your fears. The next fear is usually a lot easier.

3) Act. Have you been putting something off? A big project? A book you want to write? Changing careers? Going after a big account? ACT on it today. Now. Right now! Amazing how you can develop courage through action. 

The most successful people I ever met had the courage to do what few others would ever dream of doing. Start working on your courage today.

Got comments or questions?  Just leave your comments here.

Smile Maker:

PUNCTUATION IS EVERYTHING…. 

An English professor wrote the words,  -Woman without her man is nothing- on the blackboard and directed his students to punctuate it correctly.

The men wrote:  ”Woman, without her man, is nothing.” 

The women wrote:  ”Woman!  Without her, man is nothing.”