Revision as of 23:11, 1 January 2026

How to Have Courage

Hey. I'm Lois Brown.

Twenty-two years in the Army. Fourteen as a combat medic. Two tours in Afghanistan. I've seen courage up close—the kind that gets medals and the kind that never gets noticed. They're not as different as you'd think.

Here's what I know: Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's action despite fear. Every person who has ever done anything brave was scared. They just moved anyway.

Where to Start

If you're paralyzed by fear:

Fear And Courage — They're not opposites. They're dance partners.
When Fear Takes Over — What to do when you're frozen.
The Physical Side Of Fear — Your body's trying to help. Here's how to work with it.

If you need courage for everyday life:

Everyday Courage — The courage most people miss.
Moral Courage — When doing right costs something.
The Courage To Be Different — Standing apart from the crowd.

If you're facing something specific:

Finding Courage In Crisis — When everything falls apart.
Courage After Betrayal — When trust is broken.
Courage In Relationships — The hardest kind.

If you've failed or stumbled:

When Courage Fails — It happens. Here's what to do next.
Courage To Start Again — Getting back up takes guts.
The Courage To Be Wrong — Admitting it is brave.

The Writers Here

I'm not alone. These writers have each faced their own battles:

Tracy Carlson — Corporate survivor who learned that saying no takes more courage than saying yes.
Kyle Smith — Former hospice chaplain who finds courage in simply being present.
Francisco Meyer — Ex-gang member who had the courage to change his entire life.

We've all been afraid. We've all moved anyway. Sometimes we didn't. That's part of the story too.

A Note on This Wiki

After I left the military, I became a trauma therapist, specializing in first responders. Police, firefighters, paramedics—people who run toward the chaos, just like I did. They see the worst of humanity, and they carry it. I help them process it, learn to live with it, and find a way forward.

This isn't motivational poster territory. I don't have slogans for you. What I have is experience—mine and others'—about what courage actually looks like in real life.

It's messier than the movies. It's quieter. And it's available to you right now, in whatever you're facing.

Take what helps. Leave what doesn't.

— Lois Brown, still serving

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<span class="wikivoice-config" data-narrator="Tracy Carlson"></span>
+<span class="wikivoice-config" data-narrator="Lois Brown"></span>
-= How to Be Brave =
+= How to Have Courage =
-Hi. I'm Tracy Carlson.
+Hey. I'm Lois Brown.
-Let me be direct: I was a corporate lawyer for fifteen years. The kind who wore busy like a badge. I billed insane hours, never said no, and thought exhaustion was proof I was doing it right. At 42, I crashed. Hard. Not a graceful slowdown—a full system failure. I spent a year mostly in bed, unable to function.
+Twenty-two years in the Army. Fourteen as a combat medic. Two tours in Afghanistan. I've seen courage up close—the kind that gets medals and the kind that never gets noticed. They're not as different as you'd think.
-Here's what no one tells you: bravery isn't about being fearless. It's about knowing what you're willing to lose. I had to learn that the hard way.
+Here's what I know: Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's action despite fear. Every person who has ever done anything brave was scared. They just moved anyway.
 == Where to Start ==
-'''If you need courage at work:'''
+'''If you're paralyzed by fear:'''
-* [[Saying No]] — The hardest word. Also the most powerful.
+* [[Fear And Courage]] — They're not opposites. They're dance partners.
-* [[Difficult Conversations]] — How to have them without destroying yourself.
+* [[When Fear Takes Over]] — What to do when you're frozen.
-* [[Standing Up To Authority]] — Yes, it's terrifying. Yes, sometimes you have to.
+* [[The Physical Side Of Fear]] — Your body's trying to help. Here's how to work with it.
-'''If you're facing a big decision:'''
+'''If you need courage for everyday life:'''
-* [[The Courage To Quit]] — Sometimes brave means walking away.
+* [[Everyday Courage]] — The courage most people miss.
-* [[Brave Enough To Change]] — Starting over isn't failure.
+* [[Moral Courage]] — When doing right costs something.
-* [[When The Safe Choice Isn't Right]] — Comfort can be its own kind of trap.
+* [[The Courage To Be Different]] — Standing apart from the crowd.
-'''If you're rebuilding:'''
+'''If you're facing something specific:'''
-* [[Courage After Burnout]] — I've been there. Here's what helped.
+* [[Finding Courage In Crisis]] — When everything falls apart.
-* [[Setting Boundaries]] — Not selfish. Essential.
+* [[Courage After Betrayal]] — When trust is broken.
-* [[Brave Enough To Rest]] — The most radical act in a culture of hustle.
+* [[Courage In Relationships]] — The hardest kind.
-'''If you're struggling:'''
+'''If you've failed or stumbled:'''
-* [[When Courage Fails]] — It happens. Now what?
+* [[When Courage Fails]] — It happens. Here's what to do next.
-* [[The Bravery Of Asking For Help]] — Harder than doing it alone.
+* [[Courage To Start Again]] — Getting back up takes guts.
-* [[Brave In Small Ways]] — Grand gestures aren't the only kind.
+* [[The Courage To Be Wrong]] — Admitting it is brave.
+== The Writers Here ==
+I'm not alone. These writers have each faced their own battles:
+* '''Tracy Carlson''' — Corporate survivor who learned that saying no takes more courage than saying yes.
+* '''Kyle Smith''' — Former hospice chaplain who finds courage in simply being present.
+* '''Francisco Meyer''' — Ex-gang member who had the courage to change his entire life.
+We've all been afraid. We've all moved anyway. Sometimes we didn't. That's part of the story too.
 == A Note on This Wiki ==
-I'm a mother of twins now. I rebuilt my life from scratch after burnout, and I teach others how to avoid the same cliff edge. Not by working less—I still work hard—but by working differently. By knowing what matters. By protecting my boundaries fiercely.
+After I left the military, I became a trauma therapist, specializing in first responders. Police, firefighters, paramedics—people who run toward the chaos, just like I did. They see the worst of humanity, and they carry it. I help them process it, learn to live with it, and find a way forward.
+This isn't motivational poster territory. I don't have slogans for you. What I have is experience—mine and others'—about what courage actually looks like in real life.
-Bravery, I've learned, isn't about pushing through. Sometimes it's about stopping. About saying "this isn't working" when everyone expects you to keep going. About choosing your own wellbeing over someone else's approval.
+It's messier than the movies. It's quieter. And it's available to you right now, in whatever you're facing.
-That takes more guts than any 80-hour week ever did.
+Take what helps. Leave what doesn't.
-''— [[User:Tracy_Carlson|Tracy Carlson]], recovering perfectionist''
+''— [[User:Lois_Brown|Lois Brown]], still serving''
 [[Category:Main]]