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You are badass: 8 actions to boost your inner strength

As a former Olympic ski-cross racer, the term "badass" was often thrown towards me and my teammates.

"Racing down a course with jumps and rollers, head-to-head with three other people?! That’s so badass!"

What I've come to realize over the years is that it wasn't the skiing that made me feel badass, it was the action of expanding my comfort zone and living a clear purpose.

Ski racing was a badass act...

But to live badass takes self-reflection, perspective changes, and a realization that pushing your perceived limits doesn’t stop with the physical...

It shows up in all areas of life.

A skier in mid-air performs a jump at a winter sports event with large green Olympic rings in the background. Snowy trees and a white snowy landscape surround the scene.

The dictionary defines badass as, “a tough, uncompromising, or intimidating person”

That sounds old-school to me, so let’s flip that definition on its head:

Bad·ass /bad as/ noun

One who is confidently and authentically themselves. One who owns their passions, is compassionate, and lives life consistently expanding their comfort zone ever so slightly.

In other words, I believe being badass really comes down to this:

  • Being comfortable with being slightly uncomfortable.
  • Loving oneself.
  • Having compassion towards all beings: friends, family, strangers, those who speak a different language, animals, and mama nature.

This badass, selfless compassion is a language that can be understood by everyone.

Now imagine if everyone felt badass in their own skin. The potential for confidence and positivity would be uncapped.

Because you, my friend, are badass.

A woman with sunglasses on her head hugs a large tan dog with a blue collar on a grassy field. Trees and a mountain are in the background. The woman smiles warmly as she embraces the dog.

8 Actions to Boost Your Inner Badass

The thing about being badass is that everyone's limits and interests are different.

Public speaking? Badass. Training for a marathon? Badass. Going back to college as an adult? Totally badass.

Below are eight simple actions I try to take regularly to keep that mojo flowing. I say "try," because no one is perfect... especially me.

1. Self-Affirmation

Clinical studies confirm that we can shape our self-identity by telling ourselves what we believe in positive ways.

The action: To help establish that positive thinking, I regularly write down three compliments someone has said about me and put them in a place where I'll notice them often.

Resource: Positive Daily Affirmations: Is There Science Behind It?

2. Daily journal

The simple act of writing down things you're grateful for each day is a proven happiness tool, commonly used in positive psychology.

The action: Each day I write down three things I’m grateful for — two things I’m excited for that day and one "I am..." statement confirming something I love about myself that day.

3. Reflection

It's easy to get caught up in day-to-day life, and when you don't take a few minutes to reflect, you often forget about the badass accomplishments you've made over time.

The action: At the end of each year, I write down everything I accomplished over the past 12 months.

4. Draw inspiration

Inspiration is key to motivation, and one of the best ways is through studying and following leaders in a particular area.

The action: I like to find the experts that provide me with the most motivation and guidance and draw from them as much as I can. I read their books, follow them on social, and devour their interviews.

A skier climbs a snowy mountain ridge with skis attached to their backpack. Snow-covered peaks and a deep valley are visible in the background under a clear sky.

5. Learn

As Einstein put it:

“Once you stop learning, you start dying."

The action: Always be learning. That's what I tell myself anytime I'm getting comfortable, and I seek out a new tool or resource to teach me something new.

Resources:

6. Do

Do you ever feel like you're living days on repeat, always going through the same motions without ever doing anything you really love?

The Action: Whenever I feel stuck, I think of three things I LOVE doing, and make a point to do them more.

Here are some of my favorite activities to get the juices flowing:

Skiing, yoga, hiking, biking, running, cooking, traveling, road trips, new places, being with family, visits with friends, dog cuddles, being by the ocean, listening to podcasts, dancing to my fave music.

Resource: Law of Attraction by Esther Hicks or Abraham Hicks videos on YouTube

7. Dance

Dancing produces serotonin and endorphins, which regulate mood and are often responsible for happiness.

The Action: When I'm feeling tired, lonely, frustrated, or even good, I dance.

Resource: The Power of Dancing

8. Connect

Never underestimate the power of human connection, especially in the digital age.

The Action: At least once per week, I think of one person I don’t connect with enough and reach out to them to catch up or see if there’s anything they need support with.

So there you have it... 8 actions I take to help me feel badass. Whether you do all of this or it sparks a single action, keep this in mind:

You’re here, you’re showing up, and you and your badass self are ready for anything.