You Don’t Need Confidence. You Need Courage.

Why confidence is a myth — and what actually gets you down the river, up the climb, or through a major life transition.

– Inspired by Travis Thomas’ book, “Confidence is Overrated: Why Courage is the Antidote & Feelings Make Cowards of Us All”

Most people think they need confidence to go after a big goal.
They think confidence is the thing that gets you to the put-in, the trailhead, or the starting line.

But here’s the truth you learn fast in whitewater, in climbing, in leadership, and in life:

Confidence is a byproduct. Courage is the initiator.

Confidence comes later — after you’ve done the reps, taken the risks, or survived the rapid you were terrified of.
Courage is what gets you in the boat in the first place.

Courage is what gets you to try again after flipping.
Courage is what makes you ask for the job, set the boundary, leave the relationship, or try something new at age 43.
Confidence is simply what grows once courage has already done its job.

This distinction matters because most people wait.
They wait for “when I feel ready.”
They wait until the fear quiets down.
They wait until they’ve earned a sense of certainty that will never actually show up.

Fear doesn’t disappear. Courage just gets louder.

The Outdoor World Teaches This Better Than Anything

When you’re staring at a Class III rapid, or tying in for a pitch that makes your stomach flip, or stepping into an expedition where things will get uncomfortable, you don’t wait to feel confident. You regulate your breath, check your line, trust your training, and take action.

That’s courage.

Courage looks like:

• Showing up when your nervous system is screaming.

• Choosing to engage instead of avoid.

• Letting fear ride in the boat but not letting it row.

• Moving forward with a shaky voice, sweaty palms, or a racing heart.

In REBT terms (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy), it’s the shift from “I can’t handle this” to “I can handle feeling this.”
And that difference changes everything.

Why Courage Matters More Than Confidence

Confidence is external:
I know I can do this because I’ve done it before.

Courage is internal:
I’m willing to try, even without proof.

Confidence depends on evidence.
Courage depends on values.

Confidence is fragile.
Courage is resilient.

And in the outdoor world—and in life—resilience is what gets us through the hard stuff.

As Brené Brown teaches:
“Strong back, soft front, wild heart.” (This is the core of all Wyld Heart teachings.)
Courage is the wild heart.
It’s the willingness to walk into uncertainty with an open chest instead of being armored up.

How Neutral Thinking Helps

Limitless Minds coined the concept of neutral thinking, which is a game-changer here.
Neutral thinking isn’t positive or negative. It’s honest.
It’s the mindset shift from spiraling (“I’m going to blow this”) or pretending (“I’ve totally got this”) to something much more stable:

“Here’s what’s true, and here’s what I can do next.”

Neutral thinking keeps you present.
It keeps you from future-tripping into catastrophe.
It lets you take courageous action one step at a time.

That’s how you train your brain like you train your body.

Your Whole Life Changes When You Choose Courage First

When my clients stop chasing confidence and start practicing courage, things shift fast:

• They stop letting fear dictate their decisions.

• They get unstuck.

• They initiate hard conversations.

• They take the next right step instead of waiting for the perfect plan.

• They show up more fully on the river, in their careers, in their relationships, and for themselves.

And ironically?
That’s when confidence actually arrives — quietly, naturally, as a side effect.

If You’re Preparing for a Big Season or Big Life Shift…

Whether you’re getting ready for ski season, rafting season, a major climb, an expedition, a job transition, or a personal reinvention, here’s the truth:

You don’t have to feel ready to begin.
You just have to be willing.

And if you want support building mental resilience, regulating your nervous system, and developing a courage-first mindset — that’s the work I do with my clients every day.

I offer a three-session intro package for $575 or a six-session package for $1500.
If you want to build courage, clarity, and trust in yourself before your next season or adventure, you can join me.

Your courage is already here.
You’re just learning how to use it.