many make the mistake of thinking that you need to feel brave and confident before taking that first brave step. in fact it is the other way around: you have to act trembling. doing what scares you emboldens your courage. you must be willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable, and resist the temptation to run in the other direction, when it is time to be brave. Instead of waiting for a magical moment when you feel empowered, these ten tales of daring will inspire you to act bravely even when you’re afraid.
read biographies of brave people like martin luther king, jr. and nelson mandela touches and inspires our souls, and we also recommend those books. But because the achievements of these icons may seem far beyond our own capabilities, their stories help us dream but not necessarily act or achieve. for that we need to start a little closer to the ground, with books written by “ordinary” human beings or spiritual teachers, full of well-chosen words of encouragement and inspiration, laced with the humility and wisdom that come from having lived and learned. by reading these books, we might even find our inner hero.
You are reading: Best books on courage
1. Dare Hugely: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown, Ph.D.
theodore roosevelt once said: “it is not the critic who counts…the credit belongs to the man…in the arena.” Going wild, University of Houston professor and motivational speaker and writer Brene Brown challenges readers to take the risk and step into the arena, whatever that may be for each person. she discovers that vulnerability is not weakness, it is actually the fastest path to courage. By daring a lot and sharing our feelings and experiences, Brene writes, we find a life of common meaning and humanity.
inspirational words: “sometimes when we dare to walk in the sand, the biggest critic we face is ourselves.”
2. tuesdays with morrie: an old man, a young man, and life’s greatest lesson by mitch albom
Sports columnist and newspaper author Mitch Albom had a college professor named Morrie Schwartz, who was also a trusted mentor. Finding him 20 years later, Mitch recounts the wisdom of life and the knowledge that Morrie shared with him during the last months of his life. Morrie’s cherished advice is a gift of courage to all readers: “Do the kinds of things that come from the heart. when you do, you will not be dissatisfied. you will not envy you will not miss someone else’s things. on the contrary, you will be overwhelmed with what is coming.”
inspirational words: “the culture we have doesn’t make people feel good about themselves. and you have to be strong enough to say, if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.”
3. the light of the world: memoirs of elizabeth alexander
When acclaimed poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander suddenly loses her husband, she embarks on a search for meaning, reflecting on her love story and her devastating loss. This beautiful memory reminds us of the most important blessings in life: love, art, family and community.
inspirational words: “let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. just keep going. no feeling is final. don’t let me lose you Nearby is the country they call life. you will know it by its seriousness. give me your hand.”
4. the last lecture by randy pausch
Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch was diagnosed with terminal cancer when he gave his last lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” A wonderful book to read and reread, the last lecture is about realizing the value of time and gaining the drive to overcome obstacles in order to pursue your dreams. I finished this book with a renewed desire to truly live.
inspirational words: “brick walls are there for a reason. brick walls aren’t there to keep us out. brick walls are there to give us the opportunity to show how much we want something.”
5. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. singer
spiritual teacher michael singer shows us how to let go of negative thought patterns and expand our awareness through meditation and mindfulness. remove the limits of what you think is possible for you by understanding your inner energy.
inspirational words: “only you can take away your inner freedom or give it to you. no one else can.”
6. when breath becomes air by paul kalanithi
neurosurgeon paul kalanithi was constantly pushing himself and deferring gratification of his future until he became a patient facing a diagnosis of stage iv lung cancer. His powerful memoir seeks to answer what really matters in life and what mortality can teach us about life. as one reviewer put it, this book will leave you “stunned and hopeful at the same time” with his calm resilience.
inspirational words: “the fact of death is disturbing, but there is no other way to live.”
7. the places that scare you: a guide to not being afraid in difficult times by pema chodron
American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism Pema Chodron writes that we can let our lives make us bitter or better. we can hide in fear or we can evolve into more compassionate and kind people. awaken to the goodness in you and connect with others by accepting yourself and your imperfections.
inspirational words: “to be fully alive, fully human and fully awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. to live fully is to always be in no man’s land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. to live is to be willing to die again and again.”
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8. the alchemist by paulo coelho
writer and philosopher paulo coelho set out to write a book about his own life, as someone who took too long to pursue his dreams because he thought his dreams were impossible. Instead he wrote The Alchemist, a mystical fable about Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd in search of earthly treasure, which became an international bestseller. Through his journey, we learn the value of listening to our inner voice and heart. After reading this inspiring classic, gain a renewed sense of determination to pursue his dreams.
inspirational words: “don’t give in to your fears. if you do, you will not be able to speak to your heart.”
9. sit, walk, don’t talk: how i survived a silent meditation retreat by jennifer howd
In her debut memoir, Sit, Walk, Don’t Talk, Jennifer Howd takes us inside her journey to a silent meditation retreat. gain a unique perspective inside your mind as you battle your inner critic. with compassion, insight, and humor, he takes the reader on a personal tour of his mind and shows us the liberation that comes from accepting our imperfect selves.
inspirational words: “you don’t need to be gone for days,” he says, “but just being still and quiet and being with yourself and allowing yourself to be and not do is so beneficial on so many levels. it’s a pretty radical idea for do these days, you know, because we’re so busy.”
10. #girlboss by sophia amoruso
Although it’s a lighter read, #girlboss is serious about empowerment. If you’ve ever felt like her path to success is littered with mistakes and naysayers, get excited about author Sophia Amoruso. Broke and directionless at age 20, Sophia turned a hobby of selling vintage clothing into a successful fashion retail business. Today she is the founder, CEO, and creative director of Nasty Gal, a $100+ million fashion retailer with more than 350 employees. her success story will inspire yours.
inspirational words: “no matter where you are in life, you will save a lot of time if you don’t worry too much about what other people think of you. the earlier in your life you can learn that, the easier the rest will be.”
read more: 10 books that will change your life and will stay with you
read more: 10 best books to help you achieve your goals
sandra bilbray is a contributing editor to live happy and founder and CEO of themediaconcierge.net.
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