PRACTICING COURAGE
We examine what courage actually is, the many shapes and forms it can take, and identify a few ways to practice it in our daily lives. We’re featuring women who are making waves and practicing courage in their lives and careers. We also learn about some fun ways you can practice courage in your own kitchen! To see more ways we support growth in wellness and nutrition, check out our workplace wellbeing workshops. Let’s dive in…
THE DAILY PRACTICE OF COURAGE
When we think of undaunted courage, we often do so in abstract terms: downtrodden soldiers on the battlefield finding victory against all odds, or of people like Nelson Mandela or Joan of Arc who used courage to make an incredible impact. However, courage isn’t reserved for grand acts that some people are destined for.
Courage can be a small, daily practice that everyone can cultivate. Many of us also equate courage with confidence, but courage is the factor that allows us to start something new and step outside of our comfort zone, ultimately building confidence.
Whether you’re uncertain about the consequences of your actions, how difficult something might be, or if you’ll succeed, that uncertainty can lead to fear.
Finding courage in moments of uncertainty will build confidence, and confidence can be an antidote to uncertainty. Confidence enables us to feel good about ourselves, our skills, and our abilities. If you have that gut feeling that you're afraid to do something, practice doing it anyways. That feeling may not go away immediately, but it will over time as you strengthen your courage muscle.
Luckily for us, research has shown that bravery is a skill that can be learned, strengthened, and mastered with repeated practice. Courage is a willingness to reflect and step outside of your comfort zone, however big or small that step might be. Sometimes courage might look like saying yes to a big and exciting thing, other times it might look like saying no in order to set healthy boundaries for yourself.
Brave courage is truly a practice—we may not get it right every time, but we can use courage to build and strengthen our personal confidence. When we ignore the many opportunities to practice courage in our daily lives, we are ignoring the ways in which we can be true to ourselves, and step into the greatness of living our lives as authentically as possible. Below are some ways you can practice courage in your daily life.
1. BE HONEST ABOUT HOW YOU’RE FEELING
Yes, this takes courage. Sometimes it can feel scary or vulnerable to know our needs and communicate those with others. Courage looks like speaking up, sharing your opinion, and being unafraid to share your perspective. This powerfully releases you from the pressure of always seeming “put together.” See how our wellbeing hub can help employees thrive in work and life through tailored wellbeing resources available 24/7.
2. SAYING NO TO CLIENTS AND OVERCOMMITMENTS
Courage can look like setting boundaries. We need to know our bandwidth in order to protect our time and energy. There is power in saying no to things, when reasonable to do so, but it often requires courage.
3. SAYING YES TO NEW THINGS AND NEW EXPERIENCES
If it scares you, do it. Finding courage can often look like trying something new, big or small. It can be checking skydiving off that bucket list, but it can also be signing up for Brazilian dance classes, or even trying cooking a new type of cuisine.
PRACTICING COURAGE IN THE KITCHEN
When we think of practicing courage, we may not think of the food choices we make everyday to fuel our bodies. However, taking responsibility when it comes to our personal and/or family’s nutrition takes a lot of courage. Eating foods that fuel long term health and happiness may not be the primary focus in today’s society, but food is truly more than a quick fix.
Finding courage can mean choosing to courageously step out of the whirlwind of diets and processed foods by eating to nourish our bodies and minds. By making this choice, we can enjoy the love, connection, and nourishment that food can provide. That is where our courage pays off, now and in our long term health.
See more about how our corporate nutrition workshops prioritize workplace wellness by providing the tools for courageous eating. Here are a few ways to step into courage with your eating habits:
1. Make a homemade version of your favorite order-in meal.
2. Try one new food a month: a great place to source new ingredients is your local farmers market or CSA.
3. Set the table, whether for one or a whole crew, and enjoy dinner at the table instead of in front of the TV at least three times per week. *Bonus points for playing some music and lighting candles!
BECOMING COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE
Improv is many things. While it can be knee slappingly hilarious on stage, it can be used in the workplace to foster strong teamwork and lead to true innovation. Improv forces us to exist only in the moment, and that means actively listening and being fully engaged. It challenges us to not think about the future, or dwell on the past... and that takes courage (and lots of practice).
Improv is about getting out of your own head, because it’s only when you aren’t worried about embarrassing yourself you can react freely and openly. Improv teaches you how to be flexible: to commit fully to your idea but be equally willing to run with someone else’s. Whether you’re in a comedy club or in the boardroom, improv trains you to be comfortable stepping outside of your comfort zone, an important aspect of practicing courage.
Adaptability, a positive outlook, and strong communication are all important aspects of both improv and business. Improvisers are able to smoothly handle multiple tasks at once and are able to roll with the punches of shifting priorities. A good improviser existing in the present can easily adapt their responses and tactics to fit changing circumstances, and they are persistent in pursuing their goals, coming up with creative solutions to any obstacle they may face.
All of these skills take time to build, and courage to practice. Improv is a great way to flex those “courage muscles”—especially in the workplace—because it’s all about creating a supportive and creative environment steeped in trust and mutual respect, and a team that can do anything. See how our wellbeing hub supports community wellbeing and provides access to our many workshops like The Improv Mindset workshop.
COURAGEOUS WOMEN SHAPING OUR WORLD
It’s no coincidence that we chose to feature women that embody courage. Here are a few courageous women that have been making waves, are an inspiration to us, and will be celebrated and learned from as a part of history.
AMANDA GORMAN
As the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, and award-winning writer, she captured the nation with her powerful inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb.” With three books forthcoming with Penguin Random House, she is writing a new language of hope. And that takes courage.
JACINDA ARDERN
As prime minster of New Zealand (and the youngest female leader in the world), she set new norms in government when she gave birth and took six weeks maternity leave. She’s received global praise for handling the COVID-19 pandemic after successfully eliminating the virus in both waves.
ROSALIND BREWER
The only Black woman to sit on Amazon’s board, and the first woman and first African-American to serve as COO of Starbucks, Rosalind has bolstered sustainability initiatives and implemented policy changes and racial bias training for employees in over 8,000 stores.
STACEY ABRHAMS
After losing a gubernatorial race by a handful of votes, she founded Fair Fight, a voting rights organization protecting the right to vote. In 2020, she raised $34 million and was able to register over 800,000 Georgian residents to vote, changing the trajectory of the nation. We’re inspired by her perseverance and courage to keep fighting the good fight.
GRETA THUNBERG
Greta is the 18-year-old climate activist from Sweden who began Fridays for Future, a global movement started by skipping school. She inspired 4 million people to join the largest climate demonstration in human history. No matter how old you are, it takes courage to challenge world leaders to take immediate action against climate change!
ALL WORKING MOTHERS!
An analysis by Maven tells us there are roughly 9.8 million working mothers in the U.S. suffering from burnout. From managing remote schooling, adjusting to new ways of working, and rearranging schedules to fill child-care gaps, working mothers have taken on immense responsibility this past year, and their courage inspires us. We encourage you to reach out to the working mothers in your life and ask how you can support them.
Workplace wellness is kind of our thing.
Find out how we are helping companies that care, take care of their employees:
