Building Our Courage Muscles

By Shlomo Maital   

      I work out regularly, trying to avoid the muscle loss that accompanies aging.

      But there is another muscle, apart from pecs, biceps, lats, and the infamous glutimus maximus, that need work.

       Courage.

       The American Psychological Association Monitor magazine has an excellent article about building our courage muscle.[1]  It’s a metaphor – but a strong one.  Like muscle strength,  if we do not exercise our courage, it decays and weakens. 

          But – what is courage?  A soldier falling on a grenade to save his band of brothers?  Sure – but more than that, much more. It is our daily acts of doing hard things, even risky ones, because – it is the right thing to do. 

           Dr. Jim Detert, who has studied courage, debunks the myth that courageous acts are grand, heroic, mythic actions.  Detert developed a courage ladder, “where people list their challenges from mild to difficult, practice decision-making, get feedback and coaching.  Many people, most people, say they need more courage.

           So try this.  Take on challenges.  Do one hard thing daily.  Train your courage muscle to accept challenges.  When they emerge, as they always do, your courage muscle will be ready – just as your bicep is after doing 10 kg. reps twice a week.

[1] Tori Deangelis. “In Search of Courage”.  APA Monitor Sept. 2025