Finding Courage When Life Feels Uncertain
A man should not feel helpless but face it with courage.
That sentence has been sitting with me today, quietly challenging me. Because let’s be honest—helplessness is a feeling we all know too well.
It’s uncomfortable, even scary.
But maybe, just maybe, it’s not meant to break us. Instead, it’s there to teach us how strong we can be when we choose courage over fear. That is the choice we have to make. If we are ever in doubt, never choose helplessness; rather, choose COURAGE.
I’m not saying this is easy. Far from it.
There are days when life feels so overwhelming that all I want to do is press pause and disappear for a while. Which is not a bad idea.
But courage doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. It shows up in the messy, imperfect reality of life.
The bigger thing that we have to understand is, the source of Helplessness. Why do we feel helpless?
Why Do We Feel Helpless?
There is not a well built solution to this question. For some it may be X and for another it may be Y. But at the end, It usually comes down to three things:
- Uncertainty: The feeling of not knowing what will happen next. This feeling eats us from inside. It makes us believe that we are worth nothing. We have no value. It can paralyse us.
- Lack of Control: When things are beyond our influence, it feels like we’re adrift. It feels that we are not meant to be part of this. We feel isolated, we feel down and we question every decision that we take or have taken.
- Fear of Failure: What if we try and still fall short? This is the most difficult one. This is the main cause of our failures. It is the main reason for us not becoming successful.
Sound familiar? Doesn’t it?
I know because I’ve felt all of this.
And the worst part? Helplessness can make you question your own worth, your own decisions and your own life.
But don’t worry. There is always a cure. Here’s the thing: helplessness is just a feeling. It doesn’t define who you are.
What you do next—that’s what matters. That is what is important. That is what we should focus on.
The cure to this kind of devastating feeling is – Courage
Choosing Courage
Courage is not about slaying dragons or making grand gestures. It doesn’t have to be dramatic.
It’s about showing up. Even when you’re scared. Even when you are doubting yourself. Even when You feel down and not proceeding with your decision.
Here’s what I’ve learned about courage from various sources, from my personal experiences, and from the experiences of others:
- Courage Starts Small – When you’re overwhelmed, think of the tiniest action you can take. That meagre action will give you a head start. Maybe it’s sending an email, making a call, or just getting out of bed. These small steps build momentum, and momentum builds progress.
- Courage is a Daily Choice—it is not something you decide once. It’s a decision you make every single day. Some days, it’s easier. On other days, it’s a battle. But it’s always worth it.
- Courage Changes Your Perspective – When you act with courage, even in small ways, you start to see yourself differently. You are no longer a victim of circumstances. You are someone who faces life head-on.
I remember a time when I felt completely helpless. A loved one was going through something I couldn’t fix. I wanted to help, but no matter what I did, it wasn’t enough.
For days, I spiralled
- questioning myself
- feeling guilty and
- sinking into the weight of it all.
I read in a book: What if courage isn’t about fixing everything? What if it’s about being present and doing what I can, even if it’s imperfect?
So, I stopped trying to solve it all.
Instead, I focused on showing up—listening, offering support, and being there in any way I could.
It didn’t magically make things better, but it reminded me that helplessness doesn’t have to mean hopelessness.
Remember
Helplessness ≠ Hopelessness
A Quick Reminder for When You Feel Helpless
If you’re in one of those moments right now, here are a few things to hold onto:
- You’re not alone. Everyone feels this way at some point. And you are bound to overcome this. It is your purpose to overcome this and give yourself the gift of courage
- It’s okay to feel scared. But don’t let fear dictate your actions. Keep the fear at bay, keep it in check.
- Start where you are. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Start from the point where you currently are standing. Figuring is a process and you figure out along living the life.
Helplessness is a part of life, but it’s not the end of the story. There’s always a way forward, even if it’s just one small step at a time.
So, let’s promise ourselves this: when life gets hard, we’ll choose courage.
Not because it’s easy, but because it’s who we are.
One step. One choice. One moment of courage.
That’s how we rise.
