Our brains are wired to:<ul><li>Discount the cost of inaction, </li><li>Overestimate the probability of things going wrong and </li><li>Underestimate ourselves.</li></ul>However, researchers have found that bravery is a skill, and like all skills it can be learned, strengthened and mastered with repeated practice.

Your lack of courage may cost you

... that help people  get unstuck when building their bravery:<ol><li>Appreciating why stepping outside their comfort zone is so important to begin with (i.e. No clear or compelling why).</li><li>Setting the intention to consciously and consistently practice acts of courage.</li><li>Knowing which acts of courage to start with – after all, being brave isn’t always predictable or straight forward.</li></ol>

Three big obstacles

<ul><li>Speaking Up: Every act of courage is about laying something you value on the line for something you value even more. Speaking bravely takes no less.</li><li>Making Big Requests: If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.</li><li>Confronting Long Held Fears: Most people suffer more from their imagination than they ever do from reality.</li></ul>

Bravery habits

The more we use it, the more courageous we become.

Courage is like a muscle

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Ever wish you were a little braver?
Let's face it - most of us have ideas we're too nervous to share, opportunities we'd like to pursue and things we'd really love to say or change... if only we were more courageous or, better still, guaranteed a successful outcome.
But have you ever stopped to think, really think, about how your lack of courage may be costing you?
Unfortunately our brains are wired to discount the cost of inaction, to overestimate the probability of things going wrong and to underestimate ourselves (particularly women!). However the good news is that researchers have found that <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F08%2F06%2Fthree-busy-proof-ways-to-becoming-braver-no-matter-how-timid-you-think-you-are%2F&amp;text=Bravery%20is%20a%20skill%20and%20like%20all%20skills%20it%20can%20be%20learned%20and%20strengthened%20with%20repeated%20practice.%20%40MargieWarrell">bravery is a skill, and like all skills it can be learned, strengthened and mastered with repeated practice.</a> 
It sounds simple enough, yet in my experience I've found the three biggest obstacles that bring people unstuck when it comes to building their bravery in their work, relationships and life:
1. Appreciating why stepping outside their comfort zone is so important to begin with (ie. No clear or compelling why).
2. Setting the intention to consciously and consistently practice acts of courage.
3. Knowing which acts of courage to start with - after all, being brave isn't always predictable or straight forward.
While <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F08%2F06%2Fthree-busy-proof-ways-to-becoming-braver-no-matter-how-timid-you-think-you-are%2F&amp;text=We%20are%20all%20called%20to%20be%20courageous%20in%20different%20ways%20throughout%20the%20course%20of%20our%20lives.%20%40margiewarrell">we are all called to be courageous in different ways throughout the course of our lives.</a> Sometimes we need to be brave and say a big 'yes!' to new opportunities. Other times we're called to say 'no' and focus our resources on a single project rather than spread ourselves too thin. Sometimes we need to speak up and share what's on our mind, or to push forward our agenda despite the feathers it may ruffle. Other times courage requires us being more open to other people's ideas or to letting go our agenda for the sake of something more important.
I recently discovered heard about a project called the <a href="http://strengthschallenge.com">Global Strengths Challenge</a> which helps people to cultivate their strengths - including courage! Based on the same premise as my <a href="http://www.TraintheBrave.com">Train The Brave Challenge</a> that growing strengths requires repeated practice, it focuses on cultivating new habits via the use of cues in order to establish the routines that will lead to better outcomes. It's based on the research that has shown that our habits run on a simple neurological loop with a cue that triggers off a routine we perform that delivers an emotional or physical reward. As a result, next time the cue is triggered, the habit is willingly repeated over and over.
Inspired by my recent book and leveraging this loop in a busy-proof formula, here are three of the bravery habits people have volunteered to test in the <a href="http://www.strengthschallenge.com">Strengths Challenge</a> from August 17 - 21:
Speaking Up
Let's face it, every one of us has things to say that need to be heard, but it takes courage to believe in the value of what you have to say in a noisy, self-interested world. To rise above the age-old instinct to avoid pain and seek pleasure, you need to answer this question: "For the sake of what are you willing to speak up?" <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F08%2F06%2Fthree-busy-proof-ways-to-becoming-braver-no-matter-how-timid-you-think-you-are%2F&amp;text=Every%20act%20of%20courage%20is%20about%20laying%20something%20you%20value%20on%20the%20line%20for%20something%20u%20value%20even%20more.%20%40margiewarrell">Every act of courage is about laying something you value on the line for something you value even more.</a> Speaking bravely takes no less.
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"When it's time for my morning break (cue), then I will spend 10 minutes speaking up about an issue or an idea that is important to me with a colleague (routine) before getting my coffee (caffeine addicted reward)."
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Making Big Requests The truth is, if you don't ask the answer will always be no. You can't expect people to read your mind and hints just don't cut it. So think of something you'd like more of: more money, more support, more opportunity, more open communication, more feedback, more responsibility or more respect. Then ask. As I share in the video below, <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F08%2F06%2Fthree-busy-proof-ways-to-becoming-braver-no-matter-how-timid-you-think-you-are%2F&amp;text=Don%E2%80%99t%20let%20fear%20of%20seeming%20too%20pushy%2C%20demanding%20or%20putting%20people%20on%20the%20spot%20keep%20you%20from%20asking%20big%20%40margiewarrell.">don't let your fear of being too pushy, demanding or putting people on the spot hold you back. And never make a "no" mean more than it does.</a> 
<blockquote>
"When I turn on my computer (cue), then I will spend ten minutes asking someone for help with something I really want (routine) before opening my emails (task orientated reward)"
</blockquote>
Confronting Long Held Fears Most people suffer more from their imagination than they ever do from reality. So it's only be risking the 'worst case scenario' that you can realize how little you had to be afraid of in the first place. But by having the courage to take action in the presence of your fears you loosen their grip, dilute their power and amplify your own. You build courage every time you move toward what inspires you rather than away from what scares you.
So start by acknowledging what you're afraid of... your 'worst nightmare' then take a big deep breath and take action anyway. Now imagine yourself in the midst of that situation feeling strong and secure in yourself. How would you handle it? What would you learn about yourself in the process? <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F08%2F06%2Fthree-busy-proof-ways-to-becoming-braver-no-matter-how-timid-you-think-you-are%2F&amp;text=Fear%20itself%20can%E2%80%99t%20hurt%20you%20unless%20you%20let%20it%20hold%20you%20back%20from%20saying%20%26%20doing%20what%20matters%20most.%20%40margiewarrell">Recognize that fear itself can't hurt you unless you choose to let it hold you back from living authentically, speaking truthfully and doing what matters most for you.</a> 
When I travel home from work (cue), then I will challenge one fear that caused me to hesitate or hold myself back today from the person I want to be (routine) before walking into my home.
As I shared while filming the ten day <a href="http://www.trainthebrave.com/">Train The Brave Challenge</a>, courage is like a muscle, the more we use it, the more courageous we become.
If you'd like to try practicing an every day act of bravery to help you respond more courageously to life's opportunities and challenges, you'll find a step-by-step guide to design your own busy-proof habit at <a href="http://www.strengthschallenge.com/">www.strengthschallenge.com</a>. Be sure to sign up before 8/17, to benefit from free strengths coaches and a global community of social support.
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Ever wish you were a little braver? Let's face it - most of us have ideas we're too nervous to share, opportunities we'd like to pursue and things we'd really love to say or change... if only we were more courageous or, better still, guaranteed a successful outcome.

Courage Is A Habit: Practice It Daily Until It Becomes The Norm

Your lack of courage may cost you

Three big obstacles

Bravery habits

Courage is like a muscle

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