When have you been courageous?

A reflection exercise for you:

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The VIA strengths of courage are bravery, perseverance, honesty and zest. The benefits of these strengths include:

Healthy positive relationships
Taking personal responsibility for one’s actions
Increased tolerance for ambiguity
Increased resilience, personal growth and achievement
Increased trust
Increased happiness and wellbeing
Increased inclusiveness
Fuller expression of abilities, skills and talents
Increased resourcefulness
Increased self-confidence

Adapted from Peterson & Seligman (2004)

While the following short clip depicts the courage of Buzz Lightyear, courage is not purely the domain of the heroes in the world – ordinary people have courage too. (Lopez, Rasmussen, Skorupski, Koetting, Petersen, & Yang, 2010). And yet, being courageous … requires courage.

While we know that reflection is a powerful tool for learning, increasing self-awareness, sense-making and more, we often don’t take the time to reflect … as this may take courage. Nonetheless, a reflection exercise for you.

Think of a recent experience in which you demonstrated courage. This may be in the workplace, at home, while out socialising, exercising, engaging in a hobby, or elsewhere. It is an experience of which you are proud.