“Bravery is being unafraid of something other people are afraid of.
Courage is being afraid, but strong enough to do it anyway.”
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, Atmosphere
It's no secret that the world can be scary. Whether our fears stem from issues on the global and national scale or from the seemingly little troubles in our days, we all know what it feels like to be afraid. So how can we have courage in a world that is frightening? As Taylor Jenkins Reid explores in her novel Atmosphere, courage does not have to mean the absence of fear. In fact, being courageous can be directly tied to our fear.
To be courageous, we have to first recognize a situation as calling the need for courage and that means acknowledging our fears. We can accept our fears of embarrassment and imperfection while also understanding that mistakes are opportunities for growth. It's okay to feel scared to say "no" to an invitation that does not fit our values or needs while simultaneously recognizing the importance of setting healthy boundaries. Courage is not the absence of our fears, but being able to live with them.
3 TOOLS TO DEVELOP COURAGE:
- Notice and Accept Your Thoughts and Emotions - It is natural to feel scared, stressed, and overwhelmed at times. Life is hard and unexpected situations and events occur! There is no shame in experiencing emotions. What matters is what we do with them.
- Embrace Your Fears and Share with Others - Recognize which of your fears are legitimate and which are unfounded. Remember, you are NOT alone. Find your community of support. Join our group coaching here!
- Own Your Power and Choose Courage - Courage is something we can learn. Take stock of your strengths and room for growth and courageously take action. You got this!
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Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.
- Ray Bradbury
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THEME AFFIRMATIONS
Use affirmations to inspire you or reframe your thoughts
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My mistakes are lessons for me to learn
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I can’t always choose what happens to me, but I can choose how I react
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I ground my standards of growth in reality
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I say “no” when I need to rest
APPS FOR GUIDED MEDITATION
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Healthy Minds Innovations - This app provides podcast-style lessons and meditations all for free and backed by science that will help you develop skills for everyday use.
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Bearable - This app helps you track chronic health issues and disorders so you can figure out what improves and worsens your symptoms.
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Finch - This app promotes daily self-care through self-care exercises and goal-setting.
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Courageous Parents Network - The CPN mobile app offers an easy way for families and the providers who support them, to find, save, carry and share CPN content (videos, podcasts, guides).
PODCASTS
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Our next Question, Persuade, and Refer/QPR Suicide Prevention training is TONIGHT, Thursday, October 30 at 7 pm ET!
Please register here to receive the Zoom link! You need only register for ONE two-hour session. Space is limited for each session, so please register only for a time you know you can attend so spaces don't fill up and prevent others from attending.
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It's not too late to register for our 6th Annual Caring for the Caregivers Virtual Summit with four fantastic speakers! For unpaid family caregivers as well as professional caregivers - 4 free CEUs for counselors. social workers, and peer supporters!
- 10 to 11 am ET: “Building a Compassionate Future for Caregivers” with Martin J. Schreiber
- 11:15 am to 12:15 pm ET: “Reducing Family Accommodation in Anxiety Disorders” with Desiree Untch, LISW-S
- 12:30-1:30 pm ET: “TRACEs of Care: Mapping the Trauma Footprint of Family Caregiving” with Leah Buzek, CFPS
- 1:45-2:45 pm ET: “because I said I would: The Importance of a Promise” with Keynote Speaker Alex Sheen
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November's Book Club will be Friday, November 21 at 11 am ET on Zoom. We will be discussing the Happiness Lab podcast with Dr. Laurie Santos “How to Make Friends and Compliment People” which digs into how we can build relationships with other people through compliments. If you're interested in receiving our Monthly Book Club reminders and weighing-in on the selections - join our Book Club mailing list here.
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Have you, or someone you support, been affected by the upcoming elimination of SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - benefits? Contact your local food bank, food pantry, or dial 2-1-1 to get connected with local food, housing, and financial assistance programs. We have certified Family Peer Supporters available to support you. Reach out if we can help you navigate resources.
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November's theme is Collaboration. Next month, we will be exploring how to manage perceptions, avoid comparing and despairing, and practice gratitude. With micro-goals, it’s easier to take the next right step - as Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.” Check out November's Micro-Challenges Calendar here.
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Courage to Caregivers Breathing Practice for November: Breath Focus Technique
As we support caregivers to make breathing and meditation a practice, we're pleased to share our Breathing Meditation Facilitator Cathy and her monthly breathing practice how-to videos. You can join us for November's Breathing Practice - with this practice, we will observe our breath and practice visualization. This is a great breath to help you focus inward and visualize the places that give you peace. You can watch November's instructional video for Breath Focus Technique here, and remember to subscribe to our 2025 Monthly Breathing Practices playlist to stay updated each month. You can also subscribe to our Breathing Meditation playlist, where we have four years of our weekly breathing meditation recordings, and follow along on our Spotify Breathing Meditation playlist.
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The mission of Courage to Caregivers is to empower and equip carers to navigate their journey. We envision a world where healthy carers lead to healthier families and communities. We're in the caregiver burnout prevention business!
©2025 Courage to Caregivers, Inc.
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