Life is challenging for us all. We are in the constant flux of change and rearranging ourselves around life to be able to go with its flow. Life challenges us to grow each and every day, as there is always some obstacle that will present itself which will create fear and anxiety. If we run away from our challenges, life will continue to get harder, not necessarily because the lessons get harder, but because we are not developing the skills we need to deal with the challenges. Each challenge we face gives us the opportunity to run from it or we can choose to get deliberate about it, take it seriously and look it in the face. This is a great way to develop courage. 

6 Ways to Develop Courage:

1) Set your standards:  No one can set your standards in life for you but you. Your standards reflect who you are. If you have standards in place, you will encourage yourself to face your fears and get deliberate about growing in this life. You will not take the easy way out but rather you will choose to do the path of hard work, knowing your hard work is where the rewards of life come from.

2) Evaluate where you get lost: It is easy to get lost in life when we are feeling vulnerable, without love or are dealing with rejection. This is not a time to shrink, nor is it a time to get puffed up in your ego and behave as if you are certain when you are not. It is simply a time to get deliberate on examining the path that has led you to this current state of pain and become thoughtful about improving yourself and your skills.  

3) Stand your ground: There is something deeply encouraging about standing your ground. This isn't about being stubborn, it is about standing in truth of who you are and in what you will or will not tolerate. When you stand your ground you are making a statement of your value. You let the world know you have limits to what you are willing to accept in your life.

4) Enliven Your Worth:  Your inner world is your place of worth. Each time you are courageous and you surpass a challenge you once feared, you enliven and expand your sense of worth. Your worth has no limits as long as you are facing your fears. Each fear you face aids you developing more trust in yourself and you become more centered and confident as a person. 

5) Stay away from drama: The healthier you become the more pointed you become about staying away from drama. Drama, as you grow, will no longer fit into your standards. There simply is no room for it. You recognize that peace is much more powerful than noise. 

6) Letting go:  You must learn to let go of having the need to be everything to everyone. You must get serious about creating a life that comes from quiet confidence. You must let go of what you have no control over and refocus on what you can control. As you let go, you learn to let each soul walk their path. When you let go, you learn to have the courage to face life on your own knowing that whatever leaves your life will soon be replaced by something better and more fulfilling.

By facing challenges in life head on, you will become courageous and resilient. You learn that you can take the hard road, you can succeed in the climb through your fears and vulnerabilities, and you can reach the top. You see that it takes a lot of effort to climb up the mountain of fear, but it takes no effort at all to fall down it and quit. If you quit or if you do not try, you cannot develop courage.  To develop courage, you must be deliberate.

Little Life Message:  You cannot expect anyone to take responsibility for your welfare. You must be deliberate and courageous in taking care of yourself first.

Dr. Sherrie Campbell is the author of Loving Yourself and a licensed psychologist with more than 19 years of clinical training and experience. She provides practical tools to help people overcome obstacles to self-love and truly achieve an empowered life. Click here to get her free article, "Five Ways to Make Love the Common Ground in Your Communication."  She is a featured expert on a variety of national websites and has a successful practice in Southern California. Receive free insights from Sherrie and be involved in her Facebook community of others looking to improve their relationships. For more information visit SherrieCampbellPhD.com. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com.