From the Bible to fairy tales such as Harry Potter, our culture is rich with exemplary tales of bravery and self-sacrifice for the greater good of heroic and inspirational tales. Yet courage is not just physical bravery.

History books relay tales of social activists, such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, who chose to speak out against injustice at great personal risk. Entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Walt Disney, who took financial risks to follow their dreams, exemplifying accolades that courage can bring.

It is worth remembering that there are different types of courage, ranging from physical strength and endurance to mental stamina.

Below is an exercise to help you define and harness your own strength/courage.

Beginning with the first definition of courage—“feeling afraid yet choosing to act"—answer the following questions: “Think of a situation as an adult when you felt afraid, yet chose to face your fear”

- What did you observe, think, and feel at the time?

- What helped and motivated you, to address your fear(s?)

-What were your coping strategies?

- What methods did you apply, to help overcome this situation?

- At what point did your fear(s) start to decrease?

- What did you learn about yourself?

Now, think back on a situation in childhood in which you faced your fear. Was this the same or different, than the first situation?

Finally, think of a situation you are currently facing that creates fear or anxiety. What are you most afraid of?

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