Latest revision as of 23:55, 1 January 2026

How to Be Brave[edit]

I'm Tracy Carlson. Let me tell you something about bravery that took me twenty years in corporate America to learn.

I spent most of my career being afraid. Afraid to speak up in meetings. Afraid to set boundaries with my boss. Afraid to admit when I didn't know something. Afraid to ask for what I was worth. I smiled when I should have objected. I stayed late when I should have gone home. I said yes when I should have said no.

And you know what? It didn't protect me. It just made me smaller.

The turning point came at forty-two. I was passed over for a promotion—again—in favor of someone less qualified but more visible. That night, I sat in my car in the parking garage and decided: either I start being brave, or I leave.

I stayed. And I started saying the things I'd been swallowing for decades.

This wiki is what I've learned since then. Not about dramatic courage—not about running into burning buildings or standing up to dictators. About the everyday kind. The kind that happens in conference rooms and living rooms. The kind where you say "actually, no" and mean it.

Where to Start[edit]

If you're afraid right now:

Fear Is Information — It's telling you something. Listen.
The Cost of Staying Silent — Calculate what you're paying.
Small Brave Steps — You don't have to leap. Walk.

If you need to speak up:

Speaking Truth to Power — How to do it and survive.
When No One Wants to Hear It — They often don't. Say it anyway.
The Art of Professional Honesty — Candor without career suicide.

If you need to set boundaries:

Boundaries At Work — They're not optional.
The No That Saves You — Some yeses are too expensive.
When They Push Back — They will. Here's what to do.

If you want to understand courage:

Bravery Versus Recklessness — There's a difference.
The Courage To Be Disliked — Sometimes necessary.
Why Being Brave Is Exhausting — And how to manage that.

A Note on This Wiki[edit]

I'm not going to pretend bravery is easy. It isn't. I still get nervous before difficult conversations. I still sometimes wish I could just go along to get along.

But I've learned that the fear never fully goes away—you just get better at acting anyway. And the more you do it, the more you realize: most of what you were afraid of never happens. And even when it does, you survive.

I write for the people who are tired of being small. Who know they're capable of more but can't seem to get there. Who need someone to say: yes, it's scary, and yes, you should do it anyway.

That's what this wiki is. Permission to be braver than you've been.

Explore[edit]

Index — All articles on this wiki
Sister_Wikis — Our family of wikis

— Tracy Carlson, saying the thing since 2018

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= Being Brave =
+<span class="wikivoice-config" data-narrator="Tracy Carlson"></span>
+= How to Be Brave =
-Bravery isn't the absence of fear—it's the quiet decision to act *despite* it. This wiki is your compass for finding your unique path to courage, one step, one breath, one choice at a time. Here, we gather practical tools, shared wisdom, and the gentle reminder that courage is a muscle, not a trait. You don't need to be fearless to be brave; you just need to begin. Welcome home.
+I'm Tracy Carlson. Let me tell you something about bravery that took me twenty years in corporate America to learn.
-== Explore This Wiki ==
+I spent most of my career being afraid. Afraid to speak up in meetings. Afraid to set boundaries with my boss. Afraid to admit when I didn't know something. Afraid to ask for what I was worth. I smiled when I should have objected. I stayed late when I should have gone home. I said yes when I should have said no.
-=== Facing Fear ===
+And you know what? It didn't protect me. It just made me smaller.
-Dive into strategies for understanding and moving through fear. Discover how to map your specific fears, practice grounding techniques, and create safe exposure plans. [[Fear Mapping Guide]] and [[Small Steps Protocol]] offer concrete ways to confront what holds you back, without overwhelm.
-=== Daily Courage ===
+The turning point came at forty-two. I was passed over for a promotion—again—in favor of someone less qualified but more visible. That night, I sat in my car in the parking garage and decided: either I start being brave, or I leave.
-Cultivate courage as a habit, not a grand gesture. Explore micro-actions for everyday bravery: speaking up in meetings, setting boundaries, trying something new, or simply showing up for yourself. [[Daily Courage Prompts]] and [[Courage in Routine]] turn ordinary moments into acts of strength.
-=== Stories & Inspiration ===
+I stayed. And I started saying the things I'd been swallowing for decades.
-Be moved and inspired by real stories from our community. Read about overcoming public speaking anxiety, leaving a toxic job, starting a business, or simply asking for help. [[Community Courage Stories]] and [["I Was Afraid But I Did It"]] remind us we're never alone in our fears.
-== Getting Started ==
+This wiki is what I've learned since then. Not about dramatic courage—not about running into burning buildings or standing up to dictators. About the everyday kind. The kind that happens in conference rooms and living rooms. The kind where you say "actually, no" and mean it.
-#   **Start Microscopically:** Choose *one* tiny action that feels slightly uncomfortable (e.g., "I will say 'I need a moment' in a meeting"). Success builds momentum.
+== Where to Start ==
-#   **Track Your "Brave" Moments:** Keep a simple journal noting small acts of courage. [[Bravery Tracker Template]] helps you see your growing strength.
-#   **Connect, Don't Compare:** Share your *own* small step in the [[Community Forum]]. Your vulnerability inspires others, and hearing their stories reminds you courage is shared.
-== Closing ==
+'''If you're afraid right now:'''
+* [[Fear Is Information]] — It's telling you something. Listen.
+* [[The Cost of Staying Silent]] — Calculate what you're paying.
+* [[Small Brave Steps]] — You don't have to leap. Walk.
-Courage isn't a destination you reach; it's the path you walk, often with trembling knees and a steady heart. This wiki is a gathering place for your journey—where fear is acknowledged, not erased, and every single step forward is celebrated. You are braver than you know. Begin where you are. Take the next small step. We’re right here with you, walking alongside. [[Join the Community]] and share your courage.
+'''If you need to speak up:'''
+* [[Speaking Truth to Power]] — How to do it and survive.
+* [[When No One Wants to Hear It]] — They often don't. Say it anyway.
+* [[The Art of Professional Honesty]] — Candor without career suicide.
+'''If you need to set boundaries:'''
+* [[Boundaries At Work]] — They're not optional.
+* [[The No That Saves You]] — Some yeses are too expensive.
+* [[When They Push Back]] — They will. Here's what to do.
+'''If you want to understand courage:'''
+* [[Bravery Versus Recklessness]] — There's a difference.
+* [[The Courage To Be Disliked]] — Sometimes necessary.
+* [[Why Being Brave Is Exhausting]] — And how to manage that.
+== A Note on This Wiki ==
+I'm not going to pretend bravery is easy. It isn't. I still get nervous before difficult conversations. I still sometimes wish I could just go along to get along.
+But I've learned that the fear never fully goes away—you just get better at acting anyway. And the more you do it, the more you realize: most of what you were afraid of never happens. And even when it does, you survive.
+I write for the people who are tired of being small. Who know they're capable of more but can't seem to get there. Who need someone to say: yes, it's scary, and yes, you should do it anyway.
+That's what this wiki is. Permission to be braver than you've been.
+== Explore ==
+* [[Index]] — All articles on this wiki
+* [[Sister_Wikis]] — Our family of wikis
+''— [[User:Tracy_Carlson|Tracy Carlson]], saying the thing since 2018''
+[[Category:Main]]