How to build courage
Building courage helps us to feel more comfortable in hard situations. This could be:
- Standing up for something or someone that really matters to you
- Trying to do something you鈥檝e never done before
- Asking for help
- Saying no to something you don鈥檛 want to do
Video 鈥 Advice on building your courage
Wellbeing professional, Lorna Walker, gives us some advice about how to build courage in situations where we aren't feeling very brave.
Activity 鈥 Imagine overcoming your fears
Dealing with something that makes you feel nervous can be easier if you can imagine yourself being brave and managing to do it.
Step one
Think of something that comes up in your day-to-day life that you find scary.
It might be鈥
- taking part in a P.E. class
- playing an instrument in music
- raising your hand to ask a question
Step two
Think about what you usually do in this situation :
- Maybe you find a way to avoid it.
- Maybe you do it but find it really uncomfortable.
Step three
Try to notice how your body feels:
- Maybe your heart beats faster.
- Maybe you have butterflies in your tummy.
- Maybe you get a little bit sweaty.
These feelings are signs that your body is trying to keep you safe.
When your brain thinks something is stressful or scary, your body reacts. Your body can't always tell the difference between something really scary that might harm you, and something that's actually okay.
When you notice these feelings, you have a chance to let your body know that you are okay and that it's time to build a new habit.
Step four
Take a slow deep breath and try to very clearly imagine being brave and doing the thing that scares you.
Now whenever you are in the situation that scares you, try and recognise how your body feels. Remember how you imagined getting through the situation.
Try and use these feelings to remind yourself that you will be OK, that you can be brave and that you can cope with your fears.
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