Being Brave: Take Risks When Fearing Failure | Life Coach Jilly
By Life Coach Jilly — Melbourne Life Coach
Being brave isn’t about feeling fearless.
It’s about moving even when your fear says “stay where you are.”
Every meaningful leap in life — changing careers, starting something new, ending something old, following your heart — requires courage. And courage is a skill you can build, not a personality trait you either have or don’t. Over time, you also build up that trust, which give you more evidence that you can do again - and sometimes this is when the stakes are much higher.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, scared, or unable to make a move, this blog is for you.
Why Fear Shows Up
Fear isn’t the problem — it’s biology.
Your brain is wired to keep you safe.
It prefers the familiar, even if the familiar is unfulfilling.
So when you consider a leap, fear steps in:
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“What if I lose everything?”
“What if people judge me?”
Fear imagines the worst-case scenario, never the best-case one.
Courage Isn’t the Absence of Fear
Courage is:
hearing fear
feeling fear
acknowledging fear
and choosing the aligned step anyway
The goal is not to eliminate fear.
It’s to not let fear decide your life.
The ‘Micro-Risk’ Method
Instead of one giant leap (if setting off a grenade is not your style), you could think about starting with micro-risks: small, manageable steps that build confidence.
Examples:
sending an email - even if it stays in draft!
drafting your resignation
making an enquiry for that dream job.
starting the training - download the brochure.
booking a consultation - it can always be cancelled!
trying something once
Micro-risks compound.
Each one strengthens your courage muscle. But another thing, more importantly is, it give you usually some pretty immediate feedback in the body. It either feels expansive, freeing - or shrinking and trapping… or somewhere in between! That then helps you know what your next move may be, if anything at all.
How to Tell a Good Risk From a Reckless One
Again, a good risk feels like:
expansion
curiousity
possibility
maybe even nervous excitement
A reckless risk feels like:
panic
dread
forcing
avoidance
Your body knows the difference.
What to Do When Self-Doubt Shows Up
Self-doubt is normal when you’re expanding.
Instead of believing it, ask:
“Is this fear trying to protect me, or limit me?”
Then choose the version of you who knows you’re capable… or challenge the thoughts with thought work.
Final Thoughts
Every brave decision opens new doors, new relationships, new skills, and new versions of you.
You don’t need to be fearless — you just need to be willing.
The life you want won’t require perfection.
It will require consistent acts of courage, those 1 degree turns that drive your life into a better, more aligned direction. Who knows what you’ll be capable of from there.
