It will force you to return to your body and thus feel much more at peace. 12. Disconnect your mind: Because you’ll want to avoid all those negative thoughts and feelings which come from an absence of action. Mindfulness meditation can be an excellent way to practice these skills. You can take a class in it, or teach yourself. [25] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source The reward system in your brain releases a powerful neurotransmitter called dopamine that increases your sense of motivation and decreases your sense of fear. Dopamine can make you feel more optimistic and courageous. You know what they say: sometimes the bravest thing you can do is to jump forward with your eyes closed.

Conversely, when you don’t know why you’re fighting, you feel less motivated, and you’re less likely to undertake certain actions. You find more excuses for staying idle. Reject perfectionism. Perfectionism is the culprit behind many fears. We may be so afraid that our efforts won't be “perfect” that we don't even attempt them. It's a common myth that perfectionism is the same as healthy ambition, or a drive for excellence. In reality, perfectionism tries to keep us from ever experiencing loss or failure — and that just isn't possible in life. [15] X Research source But if there is real danger, if you are wanting to break up with someone and you suddenly have the sense they might lash out and hurt you, for example? This is real fear. You need to get away. 5. And don’t confuse sabotage with bravery.

If we take the time to stop, focus, and ask,“What is the absolutely worse thing that can happen here?” Then we can also ask, “And can I handle that? What can I do to navigate that?” Reach out to friends and family to see who has been through some tough times and listen to how they were able to get through them. Generalizing is a common distortion. For example, “I'm such a coward” is a generalizing statement about yourself that isn't true. You may experience fear, but that doesn't make you “a coward.”

You’re so afraid of the consequences that you might suffer by taking action that you don’t make a move at all. But not every one of us is born with superhero-level courage. Sometimes we have to start low and build our way up.When it’s time to act, you start to invent all sorts of stories in your head on the premise that you’re going to fail. No matter who you are or what goals you have, bravery is needed in your daily life—from having the courage to have an honest conversation with a family member or being courageous enough to try a new hobby you've always wanted to learn.

Learning how to be brave doesn’t mean not being afraid. It means taking action despite feeling afraid. If you get in the habit of taking action on a regular basis, you’re going to build up your courage muscle and multiply your opportunities for succeeding. 9. Find a strong why for your action:Examine your fears. We tend to be afraid when we perceive some harm or threat to ourselves (or others). Some fears are legitimate, but others do more harm than good. Take a good look at your fears and decide whether you think they're helpful or harmful. [4] X Research source [5] X Research source Failure is an ominous word to many, but it shouldn’t be a bad thing. It can seem scary and, obviously, it isn’t the outcome most people hope for. But, failing can be a teaching moment along your journey to help you get closer to reaching your dreams. Flexibility. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing situations. [9] X Trustworthy Source Science Direct Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics Go to source It's the ability to stay away from defensiveness if something goes wrong. It's the ability to look for new ways to approach a problem or situation. You can develop flexibility by recognizing the potential for learning in all situations, and by developing a mindset of curiosity rather than worry. [10] X Research source

Sometimes we work ourselves up to believe we are facing a huge danger that requires all our bravery. When in reality, most of the drama is simply in our heads. For instance, if you’re too afraid to start a conversation with a girl on the street, you can start with something easier, such as asking for directions. For example, if we have long wanted to take someone to court for something awful that happened to us as a child, that’s a great reason to find your bravery. But to suddenly decide to do that three months into your first pregnancy, when you need to be calm and healthy, that might self-sabotage. 6. Ask good questions. You’re going to implement this in other contexts and environments, be it after an approach, on a date, at a party, and more. Rather than try to escape to a better place, or replace a bad feeling with a good feeling, just let yourself be for a while and see how it feels to experience your entire human experience – good and bad.Once you conquer your fear for the first time, don’t stop there. Strengthen your fearlessness like a muscle by overcoming your fears on a regular basis. Because the reality is that YOU are ultimately responsible for everything, including for your happiness and unhappiness, successes and failures, and for how you respond to your challenges.