Now bravery can be accomplished through physical challenges, mental challenges, emotional challenges, or other ways. I think the toughest way to show bravery is to tell people what we really want or need to tell them. I think there are many times when we say one thing but we really want to say something totally different. That takes a lot of bravery. Now, I am not suggesting that folks be totally rude, crude, crass, or completely inappropriate. But sometimes there are things that need to be said that we take a pass on.
I know there are times that I want to say one thing but I edit myself for some reason. I might edit myself because I think that I will sound stupid. I might edit myself because I'm afraid I will hurt someone's feelings. I might edit myself because I am concerned I might lose a job, a valuable contact, an opening of some sort that I feel like I have to have. But what do I lose from not saying what I need to say? What do I lose from not being brave? I would contend that I lose a lot.
Being timid, if I can use that as an opposite of brave, is a habit that many of us get into. Timidity will not win the day. Timidity will not makes us stronger. Being timid does not usually get us ahead in work, life, relationships, or anything that really matters to us. Being timid can make us seem weak when we are not. Being timid can keep us from seizing opportunities when they come. Being timid can keep us from becoming who we are meant to be. So I encourage everyone, including myself, to be brave.