How to start having courage every day

For many of us, the change of seasons from summer to fall comes without warning. One day you’re walking around barehanded while drinking iced coffee, and the next you’re rummaging through the back of your closet looking for a warm sweater to keep you warm. For me, when the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte returns to the Starbucks menu, it immediately feels like fall. Despite the fact that I don’t particularly like pumpkin spice lattes, its mere existence as an option heralds the arrival of fall as effectively as any other sign.

Autumn events such as Halloween are fun, of course, but there’s even more to look forward to this time of year. Joe et al. (2021) found that viewing images with autumn leaves induced physiological and psychological relaxation, lowered heart rate, and increased parasympathetic activity in women in their 20s. This season not only can influence relaxation, but also provides an opportunity for transition. Just as the trees shed their leaves and nature prepares to rest and regenerate, this time of year provides a great opportunity to reflect, adapt and reflect on who you want to be.

Change can take many forms. It may mean choosing to let go of the worries and fears we hold on to, or deciding to embrace something new. Maybe you decide to become more aware of what’s going on around you and try to notice the small moments of joy that can be drowned out by the noise. stress Or a busy life. No matter what kind of change you seek, taking the time to proactively plan for it will help you prepare for it, commit to it, and overcome any challenges along the way.

If you’re open to making positive changes but aren’t sure what it will look like for you, here’s what you might suggest. Be aware of what’s going on around you and try to find quiet opportunities to take action that might pass by unnoticed. In other words, commit to being an active bystander. Bystanders play a unique role. They are neither the perpetrator nor the victim of the problem behavior. They are simply witnesses to what is happening. An active bystander is someone who chooses to be actively involved and makes the decision to step in when they see someone in need of help.

The idea of ​​making this commitment may feel overwhelming at first. Like any transition, it takes courage. The courage to speak up, the courage to say something is wrong, the courage to act even when others around you are silent. Mainwaring et al. (2024) identified a variety of barriers that may prevent people from intervening in problematic situations. fear For your own safety, your relationship with the victim, and the disruption of your audience. One way to ameliorate these factors is to have clear options for intervention, including both direct and indirect options, thereby allowing bystanders to choose the intervention option that best suits them and their situation.

Here are five ways you may be able to intervene.

1. Direct intervention: Address the behavior directly and try to stop it. For example, say calmly but firmly, “That’s no good,” or “You should stop.” The goal is to stop the situation from progressing. Use this option only when you feel safe and confident. Otherwise, choose one of the indirect intervention options below.
2. Distract: Interrupt the situation and prevent further progress. This could take the form of changing the topic to redirect. Note Or create a distraction. For example, you may want to ask questions such as “What time is it?” to distract the perpetrator. Or ask the victim to come and help you get out of the situation.
3. Representative: Please note that you do not have to be the one to intervene directly in this situation. If you feel unable to intervene directly, you can find someone authorized or trained to help. managementsecurity guard, or police. The right person to bring depends on the situation, but the goal is always the same. It’s about asking for help.
4. delay: Sometimes we can’t intervene, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help. You can contact the victim after the incident to check if they are okay or offer to go with them for support. Supporting someone after an event is still important and can make a big difference to that person and their experience.
5. document: If possible, record what happened in detail in case you need it later. How you do this (notes, video, etc.) will depend on what is safe and appropriate for the situation, but any type of recording can be a valuable way to support the victim after the incident.

Keeping these options in mind will help you decide what to do if you encounter a problematic situation and give you confidence in choosing to be an active bystander. You don’t need to do all of them. Choose the one that best suits your situation and commit to taking action. This way, autumn changes can be reflected in temperatures, leaf colors, and even Starbucks menus. This change is about how we connect with those around us and our willingness to speak up when the opportunity arises. After all, what better way to welcome the new season?