Be certain.
Nothing undermines courage like uncertainty. So if there’s any doubt, do your analysis and make sure you know you want to do this.
Be precise.
Know exactly what you want. Not vaguely. Not the minimum. Exactly what you want to do.
Be calm.
Remember to breathe. But not too fast. Count your breaths if you have to.
Take the first step.
Just the first step. The time for thinking ahead is over and now it’s time to focus on one step at a time.
Take the next step.
And then the next. Climb. Jump. Approach. Ask. Demand. Get on the stage. Get behind the wheel. Whatever it is: One. Step. At. A. Time. Before you know it you’re rolling.
Don’t back down.
Remember, you know what you want. You know you want it. There will be little windows of opportunity to bail. Don’t allow yourself to take them.
That’s it. You’re brave.
(Sometimes it helps to say “Expecto Patronum” quietly to yourself as you go.)
Archived Post
This post is archived from my account on li.st, a social media app that shut down in 2017. Some posts have been edited slightly to fix typographical errors and correctly represent the gender of some individuals. You can view the full archive here.