The Neuroscience of Courage: Why Confident People Do Hard Things

by Margie DuBois, CPC

November 5, 2025

As humans, our brains are wired to crave certainty and safety. We want to have all the data, the external validation, and the perfect plan before we take a leap. It’s part of our biology — our brains are constantly trying to protect us from failure and discomfort.

But here’s the paradox: the more we chase certainty, the less confident we often feel. We tell ourselves we need to know more before we act, when in reality, confidence doesn’t come from knowing — it comes from doing.

If you wait until you feel 100 percent ready, you may spend years preparing instead of progressing.

In my coaching work, the clients who experience the biggest transformations all share one thing in common: they practice courage consistently. Whether they’re navigating a career change, building healthier habits, or leading in new ways, they consciously choose discomfort.

And here’s why that matters: when you repeatedly take courageous action, your brain literally rewires itself through neuroplasticity. Each time you show up for yourself, you strengthen the neural pathways that say: “I can do hard things.” You’re not just changing your behavior — you’re shaping your identity as someone who acts with courage.

A Story from the Summit

Seven years ago, I summited Mt. Sopris in Colorado with my good friend, Liz. We didn’t feel “ready.” But when we realized we shared a mutual goal to climb Sopris “someday,” we stopped waiting for perfect conditions. We set a date and never looked back.

The 15-mile climb to the (almost) 13,000-foot summit challenged every part of us. We laughed, cried, and had conversations that changed our lives and careers.

Now, whenever I doubt myself or consider dodging my discomfort, I pause and remember: Margie, you climbed Mt. Sopris. You can do this.

That mountain taught me what courage really is. It’s not the absence of fear. It is the decision to put on your hiking shoes and keep moving, even when fear is on the trailhead.

Your Turn

Courage isn’t a one-time act. It’s a habit — one that builds confidence over time through intentional, repeated experience. Every time you take brave action, your brain rewires through neuroplasticity, strengthening your belief that you can trust yourself to handle whatever comes next.

What is one courageous action you can take this week to move your life or career in the direction of your dreams? Write it down, and share with a friend for accountability.

If you’re ready to explore what confidence looks like for you, take my free Discover Your Confidence Archetype Quiz, based on The 7 Habits of Confident Humans™.

You’ll uncover your unique confidence strengths, identify areas for growth, and learn practical habits to build the identity of a person who leads and lives with courage. Because when confidence grows in one person, it transforms the energy of a workplace, a home, and a community. Confident humans make the spaces around them stronger, kinder, and more alive.