Courage

Courage is a willingness to face your fears with determination.

Courage is facing your fears and walking through them. Many refer to courage in terms of deeds. It is not just deeds. Courage is a way of life. Courage is when you are afraid but you face your fears and keep on going. You don’t have to be heroic or big and tough. It just means you don’t give up. It means you stand up for what is right, even if others around you are trying to talk you in to something you know is wrong. It means you speak the truth, even when friends may get mad at you. Courage is having a belief in yourself. It means you will try things even though they are hard.

I see students and staff daily at J. H. House who show courage. Let me give you an example:

Juan spoke the truth about something he did that he should not have done. He had the courage to admit his mistakes and the courage to learn from it and not make the same mistake again.

Now you need some strategies to develop courage. Remember the book, “The Little Engine That Could”? He kept trying and kept trying and kept trying. You can keep trying when things are a little hard.

Sometimes if you are afraid you can say things to yourself to give you courage. Examples are:

……….I can do this.

……….I’m calm and in control.

……….This is just my imagination. I will not be afraid.

……….Just say no!

……….I’m sticking to my beliefs!

……….Good friends would not try to make me do something I know is wrong.

……….It’s the right thing to do and I will not back down!

If you repeat calming phrases to yourself, it can help you build your courage! Sometimes just taking a deep breath and moving forward can help.

Now can you spotlight J. H. House students and staff who show courage?  Also, please share if you have some good strategies that help you have courage.