Mental Health

Transforming Curiosity into Courage – Embracing Life’s Unexpected Turns

A big step to conquering fear is fostering confidence, say the experts at Texas Woman’s University. Here’s where to start…

It is often assumed that courage is an innate attribute within individuals, the stuff of legends, heroes bravely confronting insurmountable challenges. However, it is important to recognise the significant overlap between curiosity and courage. The initial questions of “Why?” or “What if?” can serve as catalysts that inspire individuals to embark upon new life journeys, whether that involves travelling, volunteering in developing countries or conflict zones, or pursuing a new career later in life, maybe even applying to a new University course like the TWU online BSN to NP program.

All of these are examples of courageous actions motivated by ambition or curiosity. The question remains: how can we empower ourselves to transform our curiosity into acts of courage?

Why we fear the unexpected

Fear feels bad. That might be obvious, but there it is. Not a lot of people consider what fear actually is, but the fact is that fear is actually a necessity for survival. Millions of years ago, our cave-dwelling ancestors lived in an extremely harsh, high-risk environment. Not quite animals, not quite humans.

What kept them alive long enough to develop into us was fear. The ability to look at a wild animal with sharp teeth and claws and logically deduce “I do not want to tangle with that thing.”

We feel fear because it’s evolution’s way of letting us know that we might be out of our depth. Whether this translates into direct physical confrontation or a job opportunity we’re not sure we’re qualified for, it’s the same thing. Fearing the unexpected is referred to as “intolerance of uncertainty” and is likewise linked to our prehistoric ancestors’ need to pre-empt threats and react quickly to ambushes from predators or rival tribes.

Turning curiosity into courage

Have you ever heard the phrase “knowledge is power”? While that can be somewhat dubious in a literal sense, it definitely carries weight when dealing with new situations. For example, let’s say you’ve got a medical issue and you need surgery. Surgery can be confronting and frightening for many people, especially surgeries that can be life-saving or altering, or carry specific risks.

Rather than being lost in your fear of the surgery and how it might go, this is where we can put into practice the first of our fear-conquering techniques, curiosity. Instead of getting bogged down in what might happen, watch some videos of the surgery, learn about the science behind it, and read about success stories.

Learning about something often removes (or at least mitigates) the fear that surrounds it. This is simple to understand: fear surrounds uncertainty. You’re not afraid of the surgery itself; you’re afraid of the unknown factors surrounding it. Remove the uncertainty, and you gain control over the fear. The more you know, the more power you have over something.

Flipping the script

We’ve discussed why fear surrounds the unknown, but we haven’t discussed that the unknown isn’t necessarily beyond our control.

So much of what we fear and why we fear it is based on our perspective; we figure that because the thing or situation is new, it’s inherently dangerous or risky. And while danger and risk are certainly factors worth considering (after all, being curious about how hard a train can hit you is no reason to try to box with one), it’s possible to gain control over the situation by reframing the uncertain situation as an opportunity for growth.

This way, the focus on the scenario shifts from what might happen to you to what might happen for you, turning apprehension about a new scenario into excitement about a new venture. Instead of being afraid that you won’t be up to the task, try thinking that this new situation will be an exciting challenge that will allow you to develop new skills.

Building resilience through exploration

The more you explore things, the more confident you get. Taking risks and failing is all part of the journey; the journey is what builds resilience.

We often fear things because we think we won’t be able to handle them. We view ourselves as too weak or not skilled enough. And while that may be true in a purely theoretical sense (e.g. not having the formal qualification for a job offer you’ve received), it doesn’t mean that it’s true practically.

After all, you’re a human being, and if there’s one thing human beings are good at, it’s adaptation. As a case in point, you wouldn’t be here without the evolutionary adaptations that led to homo sapiens. All of this is to say that if you feel you don’t know enough, you can always learn. Invest some time and energy in yourself, perhaps through university resources such as Texas Woman’s University’s online offerings. Consider attending seminars, reading articles, engaging in a mentorship at work, and upskilling through internships or trades.

There are myriad ways to combat fear of the unknown, and practising any of these methods is a worthy exercise that is accessible to anyone seeking growth and self-improvement.

Trusting yourself

Something people often forget in the face of new or scary scenarios is that you have currently survived 100% of your worst days. Think of all the times you thought things just wouldn’t get better, and eventually, they have. You’re still here, and you have beneficial things to offer, things that no one else can offer.

You’ve been through things, you have your own set of experiences, memories, and personality quirks. You have currently survived and grown from every challenge you’ve ever faced, so there’s little reason to assume that you’re automatically doomed to fail this new challenge.

All in all, a big step to conquering fear is fostering confidence. Reflecting on past situations with an objective eye and recognising what you’ve accomplished, regardless of how small. Trust that the same person who saw those frightening situations in the past is the person facing this new frightening situation now. Trust that you can do it again.