Revision as of 23:32, 1 January 2026

How to Have Courage

I'm Lois Brown. I served as a combat medic in Iraq, and I learned about courage in the worst classroom there is.

Let me tell you something nobody tells you about courage: it's not about not being afraid. The bravest people I've ever known—the soldiers who ran toward gunfire to pull out the wounded—they were terrified. Every single one. The difference was they moved anyway.

I spent twelve months patching holes in people. Literal holes. I saw what fear does to the body: the shaking, the tunnel vision, the way time stretches and compresses. I felt it all myself. And I learned that courage isn't the absence of that—it's the decision to act in spite of it.

After I came home, I became a nurse. Different kind of courage now. Holding the hand of someone who's dying. Telling a family what they don't want to hear. Standing up for a patient when the system wants to move on.

Courage has a hundred faces. This wiki is about finding yours.

Where to Start

If you're facing fear right now:

The Anatomy Of Fear — What's actually happening in your body.
When You Can't Move — Paralysis is real. Here's how to break it.
The First Step — Always the hardest. Always worth it.

If you need to act:

Courage Under Pressure — When there's no time to think.
Moral Courage — When the right thing is the hard thing.
Physical Courage — When your body has to override your instincts.

If you've been through something:

Courage After Trauma — You're not broken. You're adapting.
When Courage Runs Out — It's a resource. It depletes.
Recovery Is Brave — Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

If you want to build courage:

Training Your Fear Response — Yes, you can do this.
The Courage Muscle — It gets stronger with use.
When To Walk Away — Sometimes that's the bravest choice.

A Note on This Wiki

I've seen courage in firefights, and I've seen it in hospital rooms. I've seen it in a mother staying sober for her kids and in a teenager telling the truth when lying would be easier. Courage doesn't care about the setting. It cares about the gap between what you feel and what you do.

What I write here comes from blood and dust and fluorescent hospital lighting. It comes from my own failures—the times I froze, the times I ran, the times I wish I'd done more. Courage isn't something you have or don't have. It's something you practice.

And every single person can practice it.

— Lois Brown, still learning what courage means

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= Having Courage =
+<span class="wikivoice-config" data-narrator="Lois Brown"></span>
+= How to Have Courage =
-Welcome, friend. Whether you’re here because you’re facing a big challenge, feeling stuck, or simply want to grow a little braver in everyday life—this is your safe space. We’re not here to preach about grand, heroic acts. We’re here to explore the quiet, everyday courage it takes to show up as you are, one small step at a time. This wiki is a gathering place for anyone who’s ever felt scared but chose to try anyway. You’re not alone in this.
+I'm Lois Brown. I served as a combat medic in Iraq, and I learned about courage in the worst classroom there is.
-We’ve all stood at the edge of something new—whether it’s speaking up, trying something new, or simply getting out of bed when the world feels heavy. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s moving forward *with* it. And it’s a skill we can all practice, like learning to ride a bike. So let’s begin where you are, not where you think you should be.
+Let me tell you something nobody tells you about courage: it's not about not being afraid. The bravest people I've ever known—the soldiers who ran toward gunfire to pull out the wounded—they were terrified. Every single one. The difference was they moved anyway.
-Here are three gentle places to start your journey:
+I spent twelve months patching holes in people. Literal holes. I saw what fear does to the body: the shaking, the tunnel vision, the way time stretches and compresses. I felt it all myself. And I learned that courage isn't the absence of that—it's the decision to act in spite of it.
-=== Start Small, Not Big ===
+After I came home, I became a nurse. Different kind of courage now. Holding the hand of someone who's dying. Telling a family what they don't want to hear. Standing up for a patient when the system wants to move on.
-You don’t need to leap into the deep end. Courage grows in tiny, intentional moments. Try this: *Today, say one thing you’ve been holding back.* Maybe it’s asking a colleague for help, sharing a thought in a meeting, or telling a friend you’re feeling overwhelmed. These small acts build muscle memory for bravery.
-→ Discover how to begin with [[Starting Small: Your First 3 Courageous Moments]]
-=== Talk to Yourself Like a Friend ===
+Courage has a hundred faces. This wiki is about finding yours.
-When fear whispers, what do you say back? Often, we’re our own harshest critics. But courage thrives when we speak to ourselves with kindness—like you’d speak to a dear friend. Instead of *“I can’t do this,”* try *“This feels scary, but I’ve handled hard things before.”*
-→ Learn to reframe your inner voice in [[Courageous Self-Talk: Your Inner Cheerleader]]
-=== Find Your Courage Tribe ===
+== Where to Start ==
-You don’t have to walk this path alone. Seek out one person—a friend, a mentor, or even a support group—who makes you feel safe to be brave. Share a tiny fear with them. You’ll be amazed how quickly courage multiplies when it’s shared.
-→ Connect with others in [[Finding Your Courage Community: Where to Start]]
-=== Breathe Through the Shake ===
+'''If you're facing fear right now:'''
-That shaky feeling in your chest? It’s not a sign to run—it’s your body preparing to act. Pause. Breathe. Then ask: *“What’s one tiny thing I can do right now?”* This simple pause turns panic into possibility.
+* [[The Anatomy Of Fear]] — What's actually happening in your body.
-→ Practice this in [[Breathe, Then Act: Your 60-Second Courage Tool]]
+* [[When You Can't Move]] — Paralysis is real. Here's how to break it.
+* [[The First Step]] — Always the hardest. Always worth it.
-We know courage isn’t a destination—it’s a practice. Some days, you’ll feel like a hero. Other days, you’ll just be grateful you showed up. Both are victories. This wiki is your companion on the journey: a place to find gentle reminders, real stories (from people just like you), and practical steps that fit into *your* life, not some impossible ideal.
+'''If you need to act:'''
+* [[Courage Under Pressure]] — When there's no time to think.
+* [[Moral Courage]] — When the right thing is the hard thing.
+* [[Physical Courage]] — When your body has to override your instincts.
-So take a breath. You’ve already started by being here. Now, let’s grow a little braver—together.
+'''If you've been through something:'''
+* [[Courage After Trauma]] — You're not broken. You're adapting.
+* [[When Courage Runs Out]] — It's a resource. It depletes.
+* [[Recovery Is Brave]] — Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
-*P.S. We’re still building this space, but you’re welcome to share your own courage story or question in the [Community Hub]—we’d love to hear from you.*
+'''If you want to build courage:'''
+* [[Training Your Fear Response]] — Yes, you can do this.
+* [[The Courage Muscle]] — It gets stronger with use.
+* [[When To Walk Away]] — Sometimes that's the bravest choice.
+== A Note on This Wiki ==
+I've seen courage in firefights, and I've seen it in hospital rooms. I've seen it in a mother staying sober for her kids and in a teenager telling the truth when lying would be easier. Courage doesn't care about the setting. It cares about the gap between what you feel and what you do.
+What I write here comes from blood and dust and fluorescent hospital lighting. It comes from my own failures—the times I froze, the times I ran, the times I wish I'd done more. Courage isn't something you have or don't have. It's something you practice.
+And every single person can practice it.
+''— [[User:Lois_Brown|Lois Brown]], still learning what courage means''
+[[Category:Main]]