Today, we turn our attention to the sixth tenet of the WayMaker Code: “Forge Courage: Face challenges head-on. Bravery is a choice. Embrace discomfort and push beyond your limits to grow stronger.” This principle is urges us to embrace the boldness and resilience that define true courage.

The Essence of Forging Courage

Forging courage is about more than just confronting fear; it’s about actively building and nurturing a mindset of bravery. As I explore in “Be Relentless,” courage is a deliberate choice, a decision to stand firm in the face of adversity, uncertainty, and discomfort. It’s about asserting control over our fears, rather than letting them control us.

Facing Challenges Head-On

Life is strewn with challenges, both expected and unforeseen. To forge courage means to meet these challenges head-on, not shying away from them but rather facing them with determination and resolve. This approach transforms challenges from roadblocks into opportunities for growth and learning.

Bravery as a Choice

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

-Nelson Mandela

Courage is a conscious choice, an exercise of willpower. It involves making the decision to act bravely, even when it’s easier not to. In the WayMaker Community, we encourage each other to choose bravery in our daily lives, whether in small acts or significant decisions.

Embracing Discomfort for Growth

Growth often happens outside our comfort zones. Embracing discomfort is a key aspect of forging courage. It’s about pushing beyond our perceived limits, testing our boundaries, and growing stronger in the process. Each time we step out of our comfort zone, we expand it a little more, increasing our capacity for resilience and bravery.

How to Cultivate Courage in Your Life

1. Identify and Face Your Fears: Acknowledge what scares you and confront it head-on. Understand that fear is a natural emotion, but it shouldn’t dictate your actions.
2. Take Calculated Risks: Step out of your comfort zone by taking risks that are aligned with your values and goals.
3. Build Resilience: Develop resilience by facing difficulties and learning from them. Remember, resilience is like a muscle that gets stronger with use.
4. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself in moments of fear or failure. Understand that courage doesn’t mean being fearless; it means acting despite fear.
5. Seek Support: Lean on the WayMaker Community for encouragement and motivation. Sharing your challenges can make them more manageable.
6. Do the Right Thing: All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing. Do not be one who allows themselves to be part of the silent majority. Rather, step into the arena and do what is right.

As WayMakers, cultivating courage is integral to our personal development and our collective strength. By choosing to face our challenges, embracing discomfort, and pushing beyond our limits, we forge a path of continuous growth and empowerment.

Let us move forward with the courage of a WayMaker, ready to face whatever challenges come our way with strength, resilience, and bravery.

Until next time, Stay Curious, Be Relentless & Forge Forward,

Jon Mayo

P.S. To discover more about forging courage and join courageous conversations in our community, CLICK HERE.

P.S.S. To learn more, CLICK HERE.