Empowering students; 6 simple ways to summon courage

Dr Martin Luther King, Jr once said: “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” Often, it is quiet, always introspective rather than grand heroic acts that are significant in life — it’s finding that which is not visible when things are at their worst – that is impactful, especially for a student.

Six practical ways to find courage in the face of adversity

Know Your Fears. One of the first steps to being fearless is to know what you are scared of. It is perfectly fine to be scared; nobody is perfect. Knowing what you are afraid of will help you devise a plan to face it head-on. In doing that, you are already taking a very courageous step.

Set small manageable goals. The looming problems may make a student feel that the road ahead is long and intimidating. But there is a solution; break down the situation into smaller manageable tasks. The small victories will keep boosting confidence and help reinforce the ability to handle bigger obstacles.

Lean on your support system: A student need not struggle alone. Share your concerns and struggles with trusted friends or family members. Sharing what you are facing sometimes lightens your emotional load and opens your eyes to new ways of handling the situation. Cheers from your support system can be a tremendous boost of courage.

Focus on things that can be controlled. In any challenging situation, there are aspects that you can’t control and others that you actually can influence. Direct your energy and efforts on what you can influence. Such focus might help reduce helplessness and emotions and empower you to take constructive action.

Reflection on past successes. Recall times you could get what used to be deemed tough by you. Recall when, and reflecting on that time could remind you of your ability in such situations. Such thinking may inspire you and even turn into a personal testimony of how brave you are at work.

Self-compassion. Treat yourself with a little more kindness when you fail. Judgments can be overwhelming, but it is kindness that strengthens resilience. Recognise that failure and uncertainty are part of the human experience. Provide yourself with space to commit errors and learn without harsh judgment.

It does not have to be loud when it is courageous on a difficult day. It may just be the whisper at the end of the day: “I’ll try again tomorrow.”