How to Find Courage When You Need It the Most

Create a simple plan that will help you be brave.

Friday fix, finding courage.

Verywell / Julie Bang

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Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern.

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Friday Fix: Episode 69

Whether you want to bring up a difficult subject with a loved one or you want to join a new class, fear can be a powerful obstacle. In fact, any uncomfortable emotion (like sadness, anxiety, or anger) can stand in between you and your goals if you let it.

No one wants to feel uncomfortable. So sometimes we put off facing uncomfortable emotions at a major expense.

You might not go for that promotion because you’re afraid of being rejected. Or you might not move to a new city because you’re afraid you’ll be sad and lonely. 

You may have even held onto an unhealthy habit or relationship because you’re afraid of change. 

But sometimes facing uncomfortable emotions is the best thing you can do for yourself. Not only might working through these emotions help you feel better, but you may even discover that your feelings aren’t as intolerable as you imagined them to be.

Tolerating distress is a common issue I help people learn to do in my therapy office. When people learn to face uncomfortable feelings, they realize that there’s really nothing they can’t do. 

There are lots of different ways people learn to tolerate distress. And while there isn’t a magic fix that makes uncomfortable feelings great, there are some steps you can take to make them feel more tolerable.

In today’s Friday Fix, I share one of my favorite strategies for finding courage when you need it the most so you can face your fears, make a change, or do something you’ve always wanted to do.

More About the Podcast

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By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief
Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.