Courage to find your why.
Every week I ask my guest on Brave New Girls podcast how they define courage—this is what Liberty Mills said:
"We have to find our why. What's your why to give you courage? Sometimes you're so in the woven mess of the wool that you can't see your own why because the doctors have said there's no cure. This is what's common in your age. You've got fibromyalgia, you've got this, and you have to be on this tablet for the rest of your life. So you are endorsed and told there's no hope. If I try this and it fails, then I'm going to hurt even more. So it's what's your big why? For me, my big why was my daughter."
"We quite often put others before ourselves. That's why they remind us on the plane: put your own mask on first before your child, because you'd instinctively go to them. So for me, my big why was I have to do this for her. So now at 50, my courage is my five-year-old. She's why I'm going to the gym at midday on my lunch break. She's why when I'm like, 'I just fancy pasta,' I'm like, no, you've got to have some big protein with that pasta or have a lens of protein. Cause I'm like, when she goes to uni or out in the world or whatever she wants to do, and she's in her twenties and I'm in my seventies, I don't want her to worry about me."
"Find your why and what would that look like? Dream big! Dream big and then work backwards. What are the little things—not the big things—I have to do, just the little removes and replaces, swaps. Okay, for the next month, I'm going to swap up my breakfast. I'm going to dump my cornflakes and I'm going to have soup every morning with a homemade broth. Easy swap. And then once you've done that and you see the results, the proof... you move forward. So I think what gives you the courage is you have to find a why, but you also have to find what would that look like for you, because sometimes we don't even dare to dream what it would look like."
Building Courage Through Your Own Why
Liberty’s powerful words remind us that courage doesn’t come from a sudden burst of bravery but from a deeply personal reason—a why. For her, it was her daughters. For others, it could be health, a goal, or even a dream. Courage is the ability to persist despite fear, and Liberty shows us that defining a strong why is the cornerstone of that persistence.
When life feels overwhelming, identifying your why can be difficult, especially if you’ve been told repeatedly that change is impossible. Medical conditions, societal norms, or personal struggles can act as barriers. Liberty’s journey teaches us that even in the face of such odds, courage can be cultivated through actionable steps that align with our why.
By dreaming big and working backwards to smaller, manageable changes, we create a bridge to our goals. For Liberty, it started with a swap—from cereal to soup for breakfast. These seemingly simple choices build momentum, giving us proof that change is possible and worth pursuing.
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10 Actionable Steps to Cultivate Courage
Identify Your Why
Reflect on what truly motivates you. Is it your family, your health, or a life goal? Write it down as a daily reminder.Dream Big
Picture what success looks like for you in vivid detail. Imagine how your life would change once you’ve achieved your goal.Start Small
Break your dream into manageable steps. For example, commit to swapping one processed meal with a homemade alternative each day.Track Your Progress
Keep a journal of your changes, noting how they make you feel physically and emotionally.Create a Support Network
Share your why with trusted friends or family members who can encourage and hold you accountable.Remove and Replace
Identify one habit to eliminate and replace it with a healthier or more productive one. This could be as simple as switching sugary drinks for herbal tea.Celebrate Small Wins
Acknowledge and reward yourself for progress, no matter how small. Each step is a victory.Adapt When Necessary
Be flexible and willing to adjust your approach. Life is unpredictable, and courage often means staying open to change.Visualize Your Future
Use visualization techniques to keep your why front and center. Imagine how achieving your goals will positively impact your life.Stay Consistent
Courage grows through consistency. Commit to your small changes daily, and over time they will compound into significant results.Liberty Mills builds courage through her why and that helps her transform her life, reverse her disease symptoms and work towards her big dreams.
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