“Just do it” is a Nike trademark that we have all heard. If life were only that easy. Contrary to what some may believe, courage is not something that you just do and it is not a quality you are, or are not, born with. However, it is a quality that can be cultivated and sharpened. It is a quality that requires purposeful living. On a daily basis, many people like you and I summon courage to overcome barriers to achieve goals.
What then is courage?
Courage is the mental and emotional preparedness and ability to deal with difficult, challenging, and sometimes seemingly impossible circumstances. It is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, intimidation and other threats.
Here are a few tips to help you develop courage:
1. Have faith in God.
A large part of developing courage is having faith in God. Having the faith to know that God has a plan and will always be the victor for those who trust and believe in Him. Be confident that God cannot and will not make a mistake.
2. Acknowledge that there will be fear.
Even the most courageous of us experience fear, nervousness and apprehension. Nelson Mandela said: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Ask any soldier who has had to go to battle or any fireman who must enter a burning building. Few would deny feeling fear and uncertainty beforehand.
3. Make one small decision at a time.
If you have a big situation you’re facing, practice on smaller uncomfortable things and then apply that success to boost your confidence to take on the big thing. I haven’t yet but I’m determined to complete at least one marathon soon. To get to that marathon, I must make small decision along the way starting with getting a good pair of running shoes and developing and sticking with a training plan. Also, I must decide to participate in shorter races as I build myself up to complete the full marathon. Then when it is time to run the full marathon I would have already achieved many milestones along the way so that mustering up the courage to complete a marathon easy.
Living a courageous life requires purposeful living with purposeful decisions. It is not always easy but it is possible and you can do it.
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