Rewriting Your Personal Narrative: Harnessing Fear to Foster Courage

Lives of Courage with Jessica Stong

In this powerful episode of Lives of Courage, we delve into a fascinating conversation about rewriting our stories and how fear can be transformed into a tool for personal growth.

What You'll Learn:

• Understanding fear as a natural human emotion.
• Recognizing and breaking free from fear-induced patterns.
• How to consciously shift focus from fear to more productive thoughts.
• Reflecting on areas in your life where you need a burst of courage.
• The importance of acknowledging your own personal narrative around fear.

Key Points:

• Unpacking personal experiences of dealing with trauma and fear, and how they influenced the development of a unique tool for courage.

• Introduction to the AND technique, a method adapted from Cognitive Behavioral Tools for encouraging courage:

  • Acknowledge your brain's primal response to fear.
  • Name your readiness for change and your need for courage.
  • Direct your focus on courage, steering away from fearful thoughts.

• The role of mindfulness and moment-to-moment awareness in practicing the AND technique.

• The necessity of facing fear as you work towards your goals and embrace changes.

• The value of surrounding yourself with courageous individuals who uplift and empower each other.

Homework:

Practice the AND technique throughout your week. Find a written summary on the LOC blog.

Inspirational Quote:

Remember Glinda the Good Witch's words, “You always had the power my dear, you just had to choose for yourself.”

Conclusion:

The episode concludes with a reminder: if you don't take the first step towards building courage, you'll remain trapped in the inherent human fear of the unknown. It's when we choose to harness our courage that we truly begin rewriting our lives.