Okay, so I figured it was time to tackle this bravery thing head-on. Been feeling kinda stuck lately, you know? That little voice in the back of my head holding me back from stuff I kinda wanna do. Saw this idea about finding your inner hero soul, thought, “Why not try it?” Three simple ways, they said. Sounded straightforward enough. Here’s how it actually went down for me.
Starting Out: Honestly, Just Starting Was Hard
First, I had to actually decide to do it. Like, for real. Not just think, “Yeah, maybe someday.” One morning last Tuesday, after coffee (always after coffee), I looked at my list of stuff I keep avoiding – asking for that small raise at work, finally messaging that old friend I had a dumb argument with, even just signing up for that pottery class I keep eyeing. Felt that usual knot in my stomach. But I grabbed my notebook. “Today,” I wrote down, “I start unlocking bravery. No big speeches, just action.” Simple, but writing it down made it real.
Way 1: The “Just Move Forward” Thing
The first way involved taking one tiny step, even if you’re scared. No heroic leaps, just… movement. Okay. Messaging that friend felt huge. So I broke it down:
What’s the tiniest thing? Just sending a simple, non-threatening “Hey, been thinking about you. Hope you’re good?”
My hands were kinda sweaty. Like, seriously. I stared at the blank message box for ages. Heart going thump-thump. All the bad scenarios flooded in. What if they ignore me? What if they reply angry? Felt ridiculous! It’s just a text! But the fear was real. Finally, I just typed the damn thing, took a deep breath, and hit send before I could overthink it. Closed my eyes for a second. Didn’t instantly feel like Thor, but that weight of not doing it lifted a tiny bit. Step one, done. Small win.
Way 2: Facing the Fear Monster in My Head
The second way was about actually naming what you’re afraid of. This felt a bit woo-woo, but I tried it. Later that day, I sat quietly. That knot in my stomach about the raise? I asked myself:
- What’s the absolute WORST thing that could happen? Like, truly?
- Okay, they could say no. Or worse, laugh at me (highly unlikely, but fear brain says otherwise).
- And then what?
- I’d feel embarrassed? Disappointed? Sure.
- But would it actually ruin my life? Kill me? Destroy everything?
Nope. It would suck, but I’d survive. My paycheck wouldn’t vanish. My job wouldn’t disappear. Seriously, just spelling out the fear story made it seem smaller, less like a terrifying monster hiding in the shadows and more like… just a story my anxious brain was telling. The fear didn’t vanish, but it lost a chunk of its power. Felt a bit lighter.
Way 3: Borrowing a Little Courage Juice
The third way suggested finding someone or something that inspires you. Right. Not gonna lie, calling up some motivational guru wasn’t happening. But I remembered this documentary I watched ages ago about this woman who started a community garden in a super tough neighborhood. Faced tons of resistance, constant setbacks, but just kept showing up. That stuck with me. That night, I dug it up online and watched a 10-minute clip. Seeing her persistence, her quiet resolve, even when she was clearly scared sometimes… it gave me a weird little boost. Like, “If she could do that, surely I can ask my boss for that conversation?” Borrowed a bit of her guts. Wrote down a simple script for the raise talk: “I’ve been contributing [this and that], I’d appreciate considering a small increase.” Practiced saying it in the mirror. Looked awkward. Felt awkward. But a little less terrifying.
Putting It All Together
Yesterday was D-Day. I used all three bits. Before the meeting, I pulled up that documentary clip on my phone (Borrowed courage juice – check!). Ran through my tiny script once more. As the nerves hit, I reminded myself: worst case, he says no, I live (Faced the fear story – check!). Then I did the most important thing: I walked into his office and started talking (Tiny step – check!). My voice shook a little at first, but I pushed through. Said my bit.
He didn’t jump up and give me a raise on the spot. Shock, I know. He said he needed to think about it and look at budgets. Could have been a flop, right? But here’s the thing: I DID IT. The world didn’t end. The fear didn’t win in that moment. And that old friend? Replied! Was awkward at first, but we’re talking again. Haven’t tackled the pottery class signup yet, but I feel… different. Less trapped by the “what-ifs”. Did I find the soul of a hero? Maybe not some glowing, perfect superhero vibe. But I definitely found a spark of that bravery thing, deep down. It’s there. Getting it to show up? That’s the daily practice. These three simple ways? They worked to unlock the door, even if just a crack. Worth trying.
