When you hear the word ‘brave’ what do you think of? When you hear the word ‘bold’ do you think of something different from ‘brave’? There is a difference for these two meanings.
Being brave is like the saying ‘feel the fear and do it anyways’. Take a deep breath and do it. You want to go and learn to swim? Then, be brave and go do it. All you may need is a little push! For example when I’ve worked with teens, I’ll ask them what is something they are afraid of doing, yet really want too.
The answers I get back are rather interesting. One time in a school with boys and girls I was asking them this question. A student responded that he wanted to go and swim with sharks. Now can he just up and go swim with sharks? No, he needs a plan. This is where the difference starts to show between being brave, and being bold.
Being bold has more of a plan in place. Another difference is that being bold is about doing something that you know is right, yet you may be afraid to do so. There was a young girl I was coaching in the program for tweens, and she say something happening to her friend that was wrong for example bullying. She wanted to step in and say something. She was afraid yet knew it was the right thing to do. I remember being in university and being marked wrong on a test question. When I knew the answer was correct. I went to the professor and asked him to re-look at the question/answer I gave him.
Here’s an idea to consider, make a list of what you want to do that you maybe scared of. Are these things something you can just go and do? Be brave? Or do you need some more planning, and be bold, take small steps.
Do your best to have 5 things you want to do that are brave, and 5 things you want to do that require more planning, and be bold and create them. What’s the difference for you?
One of my favourite songs is “Brave” by Sarah Bareillis. Check it out below, and I would love to hear what your list is below in the comments!