Articles - Candace Doby

/29 May 2019

3 Competencies Youth Need To Act Courageously

Competence is usually related to tasks like dribbling a ball, coding a website or Milly Rockin’ in the shower – not acting courageously. However, if youth want to resist social pressures around them, such as substance usage, bullying and underage drinking, they will need certain competencies. Courage requires competence. Having skill and being able to use it in the face of a challenge is critically important to managing fear and feeling in control. According to research, competence enhances self-motivation and can determine how long a person will persevere. Interestingly, competence is also foundational to confidence. Without skill and ability, youth...

/14 May 2019

How Strong Is Your Hook?

About seven family members rushed into my cousin’s dorm room after her graduation ceremony to clear it out for a final university inspection. I assigned myself to taking down inspirational quotes and pictures of pop stars from her walls. My cousin used self-adhesive hooks to help decorate her space, and I was trying my best to take down only the pictures and hooks – not the layers of paint that had accumulated on the walls from every move-out that had ever happened. But, my series of hard, yet careful tugs produced zero progress. The hooks weren’t coming off. What came...

/30 Apr 2019

20 Lessons From Travels In South America

Traveling abroad has taught me important lessons about courage, the super-virtue I champion in the development of youth and young adults. My recent trip to Perú, Chile and Argentina served up 20 “make-ya-say-hmm” life lessons with the theme of courage threaded throughout. I’m glad I didn’t miss the lessons, and I’m even more thrilled that I am able to share them. Here they are. 1. Do things for the experience, not for the picture. Imagine climbing two miles up Waynapicchu mountain to get the best picture of Machu Picchu – one of the most iconic creation of the Inca Empire...

/17 Apr 2019

The ART of Being Uncomfortable

When I speak about courage, I notice audiences’ increased interest in my thoughts about discomfort. I’ll assume that interest piques because the youth and young adults listening to me have, at some point, allowed discomfort to keep them from pursuing a goal. (To be clear, I’m not talking about the kind of discomfort that emerges after eating way too much.) Learning how to be uncomfortable is vital to any act of courage, especially those related to personal growth and authenticity. And, breaking down the process is an ART (kinda of). The stages of being uncomfortable are: Acknowledge the discomfort, Reside...

/01 Apr 2019

6 Reasons Why Youth Need Courage

Courage is a quality often discussed in connection to executives of organizations, soldiers on the battlefield or entrepreneurs of new ventures. But, courage is not a quality reserved for adults. In fact, developing the ability to act courageously is critical to youth being all they can be. Here are six reasons why youth need courage. To Stand Up According to the National Center for Education Statistics, one out of every four students report being bullied during the school year. This means youth have the opportunity to stand up for themselves or someone else – actions that could result in...

/19 Mar 2019

Courage Over Everything Manifesto

Maya Angelou famously said that “courage is the most important of all the virtues. Without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” Consistently is the key word. Courage is both foundational and foremost to helping an actor consistently choose honesty, tolerance, authenticity, integrity and every other virtue. If Maya’s quote was remixed and made into a manifesto, it’d be called Courage Over Everything and go a little something like this: Courage Over Everything I shall have the courage to say yes and the courage to say no. The courage to tell it like it is and to say it...

/08 Mar 2019

7 Powerful Quotes on Courage from Powerful Black Women

Sometimes, a powerful quote is a perfect antidote to feeling sad, stuck or shaded. These quotes on courage from amazing black women provide a jolt of motivation to keep it moving. Happy International Women’s Day. When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” – Audre Lorde Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. – Maya Angelou Get over it, and just live a little. – Michelle Obama I believe that...

/25 Feb 2019

Being Courageous Does Not Equal Being Fearless

Is being courageous the same as being fearless? It’s a question I’m asked often, most recently by a 16-year-old attendee at the Guide, Inc youth conference where I spoke. In short, the answer is no. Here’s the longer answer. Both qualities support growth and adventure and help girls show up in the world with the confidence and passion. But, mixing up the two would be like confusing Beyoncé and Rihanna. They’re similar, but different. The confusion between the two happens when people reduce their meanings down to: don’t let fear stop you. Whether fear is dormant or active, though,...