Be Courageous | Weekly Practice Tip

We are not experiencing a shortage of opportunity—we are experiencing a shortage of courage.

Successful people are courageous. They face adversity with strength, refuse to be easily discouraged, and resist being overcome by a spirit of gloom. When they feel the weight and anxiety of their challenges, they become even more resolved to do whatever it takes to succeed.

Courage is the strength required to identify and solve problems, face and overcome challenges, do what needs to be done even when you don't want to do it, and remain faithful to your moral and spiritual convictions.

Suggestions:

Think about recent challenges in your personal and professional life where courage was required. Rate yourself on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 represents no courage and 10 represents the highest level of courage possible.

Then ask yourself:

• Did I face the challenge with courage?

• Did I allow fear to influence my decisions?

• What could I have done differently?

By honestly evaluating your response to life's challenges, you can identify the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors needed to strengthen your courage. As your courage grows, so will your ability to overcome the problems and challenges before you.

Truth: When you receive less than you expect in return for your efforts, it is easy to lose courage. When that happens, you may begin to doubt yourself, question your ability to succeed, and make decisions you otherwise would not make. Losing your courage comes with ominous consequences.

Bottom line: Your ability to succeed is directly related to the courage you develop. Most people are not born courageous—they become courageous by facing adversity, acting in faith, and doing what needs to be done regardless of how they feel.