Being a brave person doesn’t always mean crossing a rickety bridge on a cliff or going skydiving because your friends dared you to. It doesn’t have to scream in your face or shout from the mountaintops. Bravery can mean standing up to a bully or having the courage to talk to someone you’ve had your eye on for a while.
Of course, we can’t honestly know bravery until we’ve gone to battle with ourselves. As Buddha said, “A man who conquers himself is greater than one who conquers a thousand men in battle.” This statement means acknowledging your bad habits and evil thoughts and going within to defeat them. Not many people look to themselves first, instead choosing to find faults in others and blaming them for the world’s problems.
Being brave means conquering the evil within so that you can shine your brightest light into the world. It means showing up for others as well and seeing them as an extension of yourself. Do you know a brave person in your life? Perhaps they exhibit the following qualities.
“A brave man acknowledges the strength of others.” – Veronica Roth
Here are seven traits of an incredibly brave person:
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They always stand up for what’s right, even if they’re standing alone.
A person who displays courage will never hesitate to stand up for others or voice their beliefs even if they have an unpopular opinion. Bravery doesn’t just mean physically coming to the aid of others; it means using your voice to speak up about wrongdoings. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” We can see a perfect example of this right now with the Black Lives Matter movement, and MLK would undoubtedly be proud.
If you have a brave person in your life, you will feel you can always go to them for the truth about a situation. They won’t ever sugarcoat things or make everything out to be butterflies and rainbows, because they want the best for you. Brave people put the well-being of others first, and keep them out of harm’s way. They never use their courage to hurt others.
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They stick to their morals and don’t give in to peer pressure.
A brave person doesn’t care what other people think of them–no caving into peer pressure. They follow their moral compass, and if they don’t want to participate in an activity, they will politely let their friends or family know. For instance, if a person goes to a party and doesn’t drink, but their friends urge them to, they still have no problem saying no. Real friends don’t stop being your friend because of differing beliefs anyway.
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A brave person will show kindness to everyone they meet.
Kindness takes a lot more courage than hate. It takes a lot of strength to quell your fears and fully open your heart to others. If you listen to most conversations today, you’ll probably hear gossip and superficial topics being brought up some of the time. A brave person never talks about people behind their backs. They speak lovingly to everyone, whether in person or conversation with someone else.
They treat others how they wish to be treated. Of course, they make mistakes like everyone, but most of the time, they have a kind, poised demeanor.
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They take responsibility for their lives.
A brave person does not shift the blame for their problems onto others. They take full responsibility for the problems in their life and do what they can to correct them. A person full of courage would never make others feel small so that they can feel more significant. They own up to their mistakes and acknowledge what they need to work on.
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Brave people know when to say “no.”
A courageous person knows when to back down from something, whether it’s a work project, activities after school or work, or even a friendship. They don’t feel bad for doing what’s best for them, as long as it doesn’t hurt others. If they’ve taken on too much at work, for instance, they wouldn’t hesitate to tell their boss “no” if he or she assigns them another task. They consider everyone’s feelings, but ultimately, they know they can’t keep giving from an empty cup.
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A brave person knows when to ask others for help.
They also know that they can’t accomplish everything alone. Courageous people don’t feel bad about asking other people for help, because they know pride can quickly alienate them. They’ve banished any thoughts of shame or guilt about asking other people for help. As they say, everything gets done a lot quicker when we work together.
Brave people understand that while some things must get done alone, you just can’t accomplish specific tasks by yourself. They have a supportive group of people to reach out to when they need something, and they would do the same for others.
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They see their ideas and plans through to the end.
A courageous person doesn’t fold on their plans. They have a vision, and nothing in the world will stop them from achieving their goals. They make sure that their dream will positively impact others as well, and if not, they shift their goals so everyone benefits. A person with courage will not let minor setbacks and obstacles keep them from their final destination.
After all, what dreams got accomplished without blood, sweat, and tears? Nothing worthwhile ever comes easily, and the bravest people know this. However, they don’t allow any fears to stop them; they simply work through the fears and expand their comfort zones.
Not everyone exhibits these traits, but you can quickly cultivate them by adopting a few critical habits in your daily life.
Here are some ways to have more courage:
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Get out of your comfort zone.
If you always stay in your little bubble, you’ll never know of the beautiful world that exists outside of it! Do things every month that challenge you, and don’t let self-imposed limitations stop you. Of course, you should start small, so you don’t become overwhelmed. You can begin with something like doing a challenging workout or going to a yoga class you’ve always wanted to try.
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Talk to new people, and do kind things for them.
We came to this Earth to connect, so if you’ve been feeling lonely or just bored with your friend circle, why not talk to some new faces? Treat everyone as a friend, and you will never feel alone a day in your life.
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Set goals and don’t stop until you achieve them.
Did you know that most people don’t achieve their goals because of one common reason? Harvard psychologist Dr. Amy Cuddy says that most people have unrealistic expectations or believe they can accomplish a lot more than reality will allow them in a set amount of time. Therefore, you need to set several small goals and learn to enjoy the process.
Many people only focus on the outcome but don’t want to put in the hard work in between. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
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Know when to set boundaries with people or projects.
You can’t do everything, so remember that you’re allowed to say “no” sometimes. If you learn to set clear boundaries with people, they’ll have more respect for you and know what they can ask of you in the future. You have to put yourself first sometimes and make sure to fill your cup before you can fill others’.
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Have positive self-talk.
Don’t ever think of yourself in a negative light; choose to shower yourself with loving, kind thoughts and vibrations. After all, our thoughts become our reality, so if we always focus on the negatives, we will only see more of that in our lives. Be brave and love yourself, so that you may love others more fully.
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Meditate
In today’s world, a lot of people struggle with racing thoughts and uneven moods based on putting too much emphasis on sensory stimuli. To get your mind right and become balanced, you should meditate so that your outer world becomes calmer to match your inner experiences. Researchers have studied how meditation can rewire your brain, so we believe everyone should practice, reaping the numerous benefits.
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Final thoughts on traits of brave people
Brave people don’t just act that way for no reason; most of the time, they’ve been through a lot in life that gave them courage. If you have a courageous person in your life, you’ve probably heard their stories of trial and triumph. They have a lot to teach us about the art of being strong, even if we don’t always feel that way on the inside.
To cultivate bravery in your own life, make sure to set clear boundaries with others and take care of yourself first. Get out of your comfort zone and set goals that you feel you can achieve. Don’t neglect your inner health, either. Remember to meditate and practice positive self-talk so you can bring your best self forward into the world.
