Finding the Courage Within to Advance Your Life

In these uncertain times many otherwise powerful professionals are becoming paralyzed by fears and insecurities. They want to overcome the challenges to their executive presence, their leadership brand, their professional image, and the advancement of their career. But to get to where they want to be requires a level of courage that they haven’t yet accessed. Once you discover that well of strength inside yourself, however, you can accomplish virtually anything, regardless of how daunting the obstacles may seem.

Here are three tips to help you gain newfound courage:

1) Define Your Fear

First identify your fears. Describe what scares you in concrete ways. Rather than saying “I’m afraid I won’t get the promotion,” for example, attempt to clarify the fear. For instance, “I don’t think I’m qualified enough for the demands of the position.” Having named the real source of your angst you can acquire the extra value-adding skills to help ensure your promotion. Knowing exactly what frightens you allows you to develop a practical, proactive strategy to alleviate fear and replace it with courage and confidence.

2) Answer the Call of Courage

Facing a major adversity is one of the hardest things to do in life, but it also distinguishes the outstanding leaders and highest potential candidates for top executive positions from those who are not quite up to the task. Embrace the call of courage as a rare opportunity to prove your worth to those around you as well as to yourself. You don’t want to stay stuck in a stagnant situation, and mustering courage to make important changes or take that leap of faith may be your ticket to the next level of success and fulfillment. Courageous people still get scared, no doubt. But what makes them great is that they use fear to motivate them toward empowerment and victory.

3) To Become Courageous Act Courageously

To be brave you have to act that way, even if you’re quaking in your boots. But once you take the initiative the energy of courage magnifies your power. Defang your fears and courage will transform your life in profound ways. Your confidence will soar. Your own self identity will glow and radiate. The negativity will evaporate, and you’ll be capable of accomplishing more than you have ever imagined possible. Human willpower is one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and once you harness that through courage you will be unstoppable.

Now think back on a time when you had to do something courageous. Maybe it was going to a new school as a child or sitting through your first job interview. Perhaps you had to assert yourself in front of a difficult boss. Remember how you felt once you broke through the resistance and realized that you were going to survive the experience? How empowering did that feel?

Now carry that sensation forward and let it support you as you confront whatever fears you feel today. What is your big fear? How can you strategize to define it and tap into your well of courage?