You are what you consistently do.

How do you become a coward?  Through practice. Cowardice is a habit that can grab you and hold you back from becoming who you are called to be. Notice, I didn’t say fear is a habit.  Everyone encounters fear.  Fear is a reaction to perceived or actual risk that is meant to protect you from bad outcomes – like a lion eating you.  

Cowardice is when you let your fears control you. For example, when a perceived or actual risk enters your life, you habitually choose to listen to your fearful self talk – like somebody not liking you or your ideas.

Cowardice:

• Stops you from trying something you aren’t sure you can do.
• Keeps you silent when other people are bad mouthing a co-worker.
• Pushes back against inevitable change.
• Chooses pleasant easy things.
• Chooses the easy way of the status quo.
• Allows a friend to stand alone.

Cowardice is a habit. Similar to any habit, the more you choose it, the more it becomes who you are.  The more you choose to smoke, the more likely you will become a smoker.  You are what you consistently do.

The good news is that the opposite of cowardice is Courage.  We define Courage as acting despite perceived or actual risk.  In his great book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg points out that you don’t eliminate habits, you replace them.

My challenge to you follows Duhigg’s guidance.  If you have been in the habit of listening to the voices in your head telling you to choose the safe, comfortable, or easy option then it is time to start a new habit.  That new habit is Courage.  

Instead of practicing cowardice, start practicing Courage!  The more you choose to exercise Courage in the moments where you used to choose cowardice, the easier it will get the next time you hear those fearful voices inside your head.  One choice at a time, one day at a time, you will get better and better and no longer let fear make your decisions for you.  You will walk away from cowardice and right into the habit of Courage.

You are what you consistently do.  

You can check out our other blogs on Courage:  Courage Blogs

Question:

• What areas of your life have you let fear control your decisions?
• Where are you going to choose Courage this week?