If fear is considered a universal emotion, then you’d expect bravery to be universal as well. Being brave under difficult circumstances can be easier for some people because they have less residual fear in their past and present. How you were raised and the degree of fear you managed can influence bravery in negative and positive ways.
There are many factors that influence bravery. Some factors are based on nature – how you’re wired. Some people simply have stronger personalities that lend themselves to bravery. Thrill-seeking, leadership, and strong-willed personality types may find it second nature to be brave. Some factors are based on nurture – the environment you grew up in. These factors can influence bravery in unexpected ways. Let’s take a look.
Childhood traumas influence bravery – Your childhood has a great impact on your bravery. Withstanding childhood abuse or trauma can make you brave or timid. Depending on how you internalized your childhood, it may have made you a fighter or someone who devolves into a worrier during difficult times. Trauma is hard. Dealing with tough circumstances as a child shapes your future and can influence how bravely you react as an adult.
Cultural expectations influence bravery – You live in a culture. Within the culture, there are sub-cultures. Your family is a culture, your community is a culture, and even your workplace and friendships have a culture. Culture is the way things are done mixed in with the acceptable and unacceptable activities within the group. Your culture has an influence on bravery. How your culture responds to difficult situations and the role that individuals have during difficult times shapes how brave and bulletproof people are.
Economics influence bravery – Your financial stability can influence your bravery. Having more resources makes it easier to manage tough situations and offers more choices to remedy difficulties. Not having enough money can make you scrappy and resourceful or it can make you hopeless or helpless. Your mindset about finances can affect how bulletproof you feel when it comes to facing adversity and being brave.
Bravery comes in many forms. A brave mindset is a combination of how you’re wired and the experiences you’ve had in life that shape how you think and react during adversity. Depending on what you’ve experienced and your personality, you may find it easier or harder to feel bulletproof and brave. Nonetheless, anyone can choose bravery when they are called. Anyone can override their natural tendencies and do bigger, braver things than they ever thought possible.
