Practical Ways to Summon a Bit More Personal Courage
You want more personal courage. You want to take that bold step, make the big decision, or speak up when it matters. But then… fear creeps in. What if it goes wrong? What if you fail? What if people judge you?
If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company Fear is natural. It’s wired into your brain to keep you safe. But here’s the problem: fear doesn’t just protect you from real danger—it also holds you back from opportunities, growth, and success.
So how do you move forward when fear is pulling you back?
I had an important conversation with Dr. Margie Warrell about her new book, The Courage Gap, and she shared a simple but profound shift in thinking:
🔥 “Focus on what you want, not on what you fear.” 🔥
That hit home. Think about it—how much mental energy do you waste imagining worst-case scenarios? Your brain is constantly scanning for potential threats, but most of the time, those threats are just stories you’re telling yourself.
How to Rewire Your Brain for More Personal Courage
Margie explained that when you focus on what you don’t want—failure, rejection, embarrassment—you feed your fear. That fear then hijacks your creativity and decision-making, keeping you stuck in a loop of hesitation. The key is to redirect your focus to what you do want. That shift in focus is a key to more personal courage
Next time you feel fear creeping in, ask yourself:
✅ What is my highest intention for this situation?
✅ What is actually within my control?
✅ Where do I want to put my energy?
Instead of playing out all the ways something could go wrong, shift your focus to the possibilities—the outcomes you want to create. Because what you focus on expands.
The Power of Writing It Down
One of the most powerful ways to reinforce this mindset shift is to physically write it down. Not on your phone, not on a laptop—with a pen and paper. Studies show that handwriting activates different areas of the brain that help you process and retain information better.
📝 Try this exercise: Take five minutes to write down your vision. What do you want to happen? How do you want to show up? What would success look like?
Fear thrives in uncertainty, but when you put your goals and intentions on paper, you create clarity. And clarity builds confidence.
NOTE: You know we’re big believers in creating a compelling team vision, which is a key activity in our SynergySprint Team Retreats. I love the idea of writing down your vision for more personal courage as well,
What We Get Wrong About Failure
Let’s talk about failure—because it’s one of the biggest reasons people hesitate to act with courage. You’ve probably heard the phrase: “If you want to succeed, fail more.”
But as Margie pointed out, that’s not the whole story. Just failing more doesn’t automatically lead to success. The real key is learning from failure.
You can’t always control the outcome of your risks, but you can control how you reflect on them. Instead of seeing failure as proof that you weren’t good enough, ask yourself:
➡️ What worked?
➡️ What didn’t?
➡️ What can I do differently next time?
When you do this, failure stops being an endpoint and becomes a stepping stone. Every setback is a chance to refine your approach, develop resilience, and move forward with even more clarity and confidence.
Fear or Growth—The Choice is Yours
Courage isn’t about eliminating fear—it’s about acting despite it. The difference between people who take bold action and those who stay stuck isn’t that the bold ones don’t feel fear. They do. They’ve just trained themselves to move forward anyway.
So the next time fear tries to hold you back, take a breath, grab a pen, and refocus.
💡 What’s one way you shift your mindset when fear starts creeping in? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
If you enjoyed this interview, let’s connect on LinkedIn, where I publish new Asking for a Friend Videos every week.
See Also; Managerial Courage: Practical Ways to Be More Daring
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