Courage Is a Spark, Not a Trait
Post 1 of Brave Leadership: From the Emotion of Courage to the Identity of Bravery
Most people think leadership is about having answers.
But brave leadership is about asking the right questions—especially when the answers terrify you.
It doesn’t start with confidence or charisma.
It starts with a feeling.
A flutter.
A tremor.
A knowing that something must be done—even if you’re afraid.
That feeling is called courage.
Courage is not a trait—it’s an emotion.
We don’t have courage.
We feel it.
We summon it.
It rises like heat in the chest when we’re faced with a decision that could change something—sometimes everything.
For me, courage begins in the stomach.
At first, there are butterflies—nerves, uncertainty, discomfort.
But then something shifts. The butterflies evaporate.
A warmth spreads in my gut, and suddenly, I feel grounded—like my feet are set deep into the earth.
I become an immovable object with a will to match.
Fear melts away—not because the danger disappears, but because something stronger rises.
I can feel a line of energy connecting from my core to my spine, down into my legs, into my feet, and into the soil beneath me.
It feels like integrity. Truth. Certainty. Righteousness.
That’s courage.
It doesn’t last forever. But in that moment, it’s everything.
But when courage leads to action—it opens a cycle.
That single act—speaking up, setting the boundary, showing up—activates a system.
If the action has impact…
If the outcome is meaningful or safe…
If the person sees it worked—
They don’t just feel courageous.
They start to feel capable.
This is what psychologist Albert Bandura called self-efficacy:
“The belief in one’s ability to influence events that affect one’s life.”
That belief is the engine of change.
With repetition, courage becomes something more.
If someone keeps choosing courage…
Keeps reflecting on their impact…
Keeps experiencing meaning and growth from their actions…
Something shifts.
Their sense of identity evolves.
They stop saying:
“I was brave that time.”
And they start saying:
“This is who I am now.”
This is where we cross the line from courage to bravery.
Bravery is an identity, not an impulse.
You know you’re around a brave person when they say things like:
“I was just doing my job.”
“Anyone would’ve done the same.”
“I couldn’t not do something.”
Bravery is a lens—a way of seeing the world that insists:
I am the kind of person who shows up—especially when it matters most.
The Cycle of Brave Leadership
Over time, courageous action leads to:
Self-Efficacy →
“I did that. I could do it again.”Flourishing →
“That felt meaningful. It helped others. It helped me.”Reflection →
“That choice reflects who I want to be.”Bravery →
“This is who I am now.”
And the next time courage is needed…
It takes less effort.
Because bravery is no longer something you reach for—it’s something you carry.
Why This Matters for Leaders
We’re living in a time of deferred courage.
People are burned out, disillusioned, afraid to speak, unsure where to stand.
Many don’t feel brave—but they remember moments when they were.
What they need is a path back.
This series is that path.
We’ll use the THX frameworks—The 12 Utilities, PERMAH, the Admiration Equation, Prospect Theory, and Micro-Moments—to break down what brave leadership looks like, feels like, and creates.
We’ll show how bravery isn’t about being the loudest or most certain voice in the room.
It’s about creating a human system that holds, protects, and transforms.
One choice at a time.
Reflect
When was the last time you felt courage rise in your body?
Did you act on it?
What came of it?
What did you learn about yourself?
Invitation
In the comments or privately, share:
A moment when you felt courage—and what you chose to do.
NEXT - The 12 Utilities of Brave Leadership
