Finding Courage/Daily Practice: Nurturing True Courage

Here’s a “Finding Courage” Daily Practice Checklist, grounded in the Finding Courage course from Wikiversity.^[1] This routine helps you recognize genuine courage—not mere recklessness—and build the inner strength to act on your values despite fear.

• Reflect on the essence of courage: Courage is not the absence of fear, but a conscious and wise choice to act in alignment with your deeply held values—even amid fear, discomfort, or risk.
• Set a clear intention: “Today, I will recognize fear, balance it with purpose, and act courageously.”

1. Acknowledge Moments of Fear
   • Notice when fear or hesitation arises. Rather than dismissing or suppressing it, treat it as a signal for an opportunity to act with courage.
2. Clarify Your Values and Purpose
   • Ask: Why is this issue important? What principle is at stake? Aligning with your worthy purpose fuels courageous action.
3. Balance Fear with Confidence
   • Recognize that confidence in your capabilities—supported by experience—helps regulate fear. Let that balance guide your actions.
4. Distinguish Courage from Rashness
   • Ensure your actions include thoughtful deliberation and are not impulsive or reckless. Courage is virtuous precisely because it is measured.
5. Endure Wisely Under Pressure
   • When you're tested—by discomfort, challenge, or adversity—draw on perseverance and impulse control to stand firm.
6. Practice Moral Courage
   • Take a stand—even in small ways—when integrity calls for it. Choosing honesty, kindness, or justice often requires quiet, everyday bravery.

Pause and reinforce your resolve with one or more affirmations:

• “I am courageous.”

• “I understand the danger and act on well-chosen values.”
• “I act with discipline—not impulse.”
• “I endure in the face of obstacles.”
• “I exercise moral courage.”
• “I always do my best.”

Take a moment (through journaling or mental note) to reflect:

• When did fear surface today—and how did I respond?
• Did I act on my values despite discomfort?
• In what ways did I balance fear with confidence or purpose?
• What courageous decision—big or small—did I make?
• What aspect of courage (e.g., clarity of purpose, deliberation, endurance, moral clarity) will I focus on tomorrow?

Consider closing with an affirmation like:

“I grow stronger where courage meets purpose.”

1. ↑ ChatGPT generated this text responding to the prompt: “Generate an ‘finding courage’ daily practice checklist based on the materials at: https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Finding_Courage”.