Tips to welcome bravery into your life and empower yourself on your writing journey.
It’s one thing to realize that you want to be brave and another thing entirely to welcome bravery into your life – and embrace it within the moment. In no particular order, here are some tips to help you embrace bravery and use it to empower yourself on your writing journey.
1. Release Perfection.
The fear of making a mistake or sharing a piece of writing that doesn’t measure up can paralyze us. Instead of starting out demanding perfection of yourself, give yourself permission to be you – your imperfections included.
Remember (and embrace!) the wise words of Voltaire, one of the world’s first prolific writers: “Perfection is the enemy of good.”
Let the demands of perfection go. What you create might not be perfect. But you will have written and expressed your truth. You will have stepped forward on your path. And that, indeed, is good.
2. Focus on what you do well.
One of the best ways to undermine your confidence is to focus on your weaknesses. Instead, find something you do well – no matter how small – and focus on it. Perhaps you’re great at writing emails or text messages. Maybe you have a talent for writing hand-written cards that make people smile. Maybe you’re great at writing clear instructions or interesting articles. Or maybe you can describe a sunset in a way that takes people’s breath away.
More than likely, you have many things you do well. Start with one and acknowledge it. Try writing it down and repeating it to yourself. Focus on it and recognize that it’s a strength of yours – something to be proud of. Reminding yourself of your strengths is a powerful way to shift your focus into building – rather than undermining – your confidence.
3. Face your Uncertainties.
One of the biggest challenges to embracing bravery is the fear of “what if.” What if we fail? What if other people don’t like it? What if we’re embarrassed?
Identify what specific uncertainties you’re worried about so that you can understand them – and face them. Ask yourself:
How likely is each “what if” to happen? Often, we let fear hold us back even though we know the likelihood of it happening is low.
What can you do to mitigate the possibility of the “what if” happening? Often, it’s within our power to edit or adjust in a way that takes much of the risk away.
Even if the “what if” happens, will it be worth it in order to express yourself and write your truth? If your answer is yes, then you have taken much of its power away.
By facing your uncertainties, you empower yourself to see them for what they are, examine the actual risk they pose, and decide whether they will hold you back, or whether you will bravely push them aside and step forward.
4. Honor bravery in others.
There are beautiful small acts of bravery happening all around us, every day. Our response to the bravery we see in others is often envy, especially when we feel insecure.
Instead, when you notice an act of bravery, honor it. Think to yourself – or even tell the person, if it’s possible to do so – that what they did was brave and took courage. Tell yourself that you recognize and honor that bravery.
Welcome the bravery you see in others to increase in your own life. Ask yourself how you could emulate it and incorporate it into your work and outlook.
5. Recognize bravery in yourself.
We all do things that are brave every day, but we often overlook the ones in our own lives because we take them for granted or dismiss them as not important or significant enough.
Notice the little acts of bravery that are already present in your life – no matter how small. Recognize that it’s brave to start a project. It’s brave to write, and it’s brave to share. It’s brave to invest your energy. Brave to spend your time on what you love. It’s brave to walk this writing path and step forward in the direction of your dreams.
By recognizing bravery in yourself, you are inviting bravery to expand. And you might just find that it has been waiting for this invitation.
Most importantly, realize that bravery is something we can nurture and expand in our lives. The more we welcome it in, the stronger it will become. Practice embracing bravery, and see how it flourishes in your life.