Daniel Mabanta
Do you consider yourself a risk-taker? Are you someone who steps outside your comfort zone, ready to seize the day?
If so, you might be one of the brave ones who know what they want in life and are confident enough to get it. You’ve got a special factor that sets you apart from the rest — boldness and fearlessness.
How do you know if you’ve got what it takes to be bold and fearless?
In this article, I’ll share 17 signs of a truly gutsy personality that makes you stand out in a crowd. Let’s get to it!
1) You are self-confident
Here’s the thing: most people dislike uncertainty. This makes them appear hesitant and meek instead of bold and fearless.
In contrast, you have a sense of inner confidence and self-assurance about you. You rarely doubt your abilities, intellect, or values. But at the same time, you aren’t scared to be wrong.
And while society might not look very kindly on those who don’t just go along with the crowd, you don’t really mind walking your own path. In fact, you’re proud of your individuality and see it as an asset in life. You’re unapologetically you!
2) You have the capacity to take risks
Being gutsy is rooted in self-confidence. And if you’re really confident, you’ve got a strong stomach for risk.
You see, bold and fearless people like you are firm in their beliefs and ideas and aren’t likely to be swayed by societal norms.
You think outside the box and defy conventions, unafraid to be different. You know that being different can often lead to creating something revolutionary.
Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in this lifetime, like Bernard Arnault or Jack Ma, didn’t get to where they are by playing it safe.
These industry leaders have real boldness within them–which is why they are the game-changers they are.
To be bold and fearless means to take risks and not be afraid of failure. Your confidence and self-belief show up in all aspects of your life, especially when making decisions.
3) You are decisive and take action
Do you make quick but calculated decisions? Have you nailed that balance between intuition and decisiveness.
If so, you just might have a bold and fearless streak in you.
Here’s something I’ve noticed in the fearless people I know — when it’s crunch time, they don’t do self-doubt. They don’t second-guess themselves.
They focus on the moment and thrive, leaving all the unnecessary noise behind.
And you know what? They can produce quality results under pressure. That’s a skill not everyone has!
4) You live in the present
Speaking of focusing on the moment leads me to this next point…
Let’s face it, it’s human nature to dwell on past blunders or worry about future outcomes that you have no control over.
But not you. As a bold and fearless person, you tend to live in the present, realizing that ruminating on these other things wastes time and is just counterproductive.
By focusing on the present and living in the moment, you practice mindfulness–a habit that allows you to make the most of every moment.
In fact, you proactively prevent bad things from happening by focusing on what you can actually control instead of what you can’t.
5) You are resilient and persistent in the face of obstacles
And when things do go wrong? Well, no sweat.
You’ve got a flexible mindset that allows you to bounce back and persist in the face of challenges.
That’s the great thing about bold and fearless people like you — you know that nothing of value in life comes easy.
You even see obstacles or failures as great teachers and valuable sources of life lessons. This mindset helps you become even bolder and stronger when the next challenge comes around.
6) You’re secure enough to admit mistakes and learn from feedback
As we’ve established above, having a bold and fearless attitude involves learning from these mistakes or obstacles.
But here’s the thing — it takes a certain kind of security to be humble enough to own your mistakes.
This reminds me of two co-workers I used to have. The first one was always eager to receive feedback and was able to take it constructively. The other one, in contrast, came across as a know-it-all and often became defensive at the slightest criticism.
Ironically, it was the first co-worker I saw as a bold and fearless person.
You know why? Because he understood that nobody knows it all, no man is an island, and that learning never stops!
This leads me to my next point…
7) You always ask questions
Are you someone who isn’t afraid to speak up and ask for clarification? Do you love asking questions to know more about things?
That’s a sign that you’ve got the guts to actively seek the information you need. You know that the quest for knowledge is endless.
See, bold and fearless people realize that as long as they’re breathing, there is always room for growth.
While entitled people believe they’re above others, the bold person knows that they can learn something new from anyone–regardless of background, age, or educational attainment.
8) You challenge authority and question the status quo
We live in a world that values obedience and conformity–i.e making it easier for the powers that be (also known as “The Man”) to rule over us. This is the status quo.
But if you’re bold and fearless, you won’t just take things sitting down.
You don’t just bow down to authority without challenging them first, and you refuse to readily accept injustice or incompetence when you see it.
You are unashamed to be yourself, even if it means going against the grain and standing up for your beliefs.
We certainly need more of that in this world!
9) You have solid, unwavering values
You know why bold and fearless people like you can question the status quo?
Your boldness comes from an innate and unequivocal belief in yourself. You aren’t easily influenced by passing trends or fads, you’re steadfast in who you are and what you stand for.
When a bold and fearless person has decided what their values are in life, it becomes ingrained in their day-to-day existence.
So, if someone tries to influence you away from your values, you probably won’t budge. You stick to your principles. In this sense, we can say you’ve got plenty of integrity.
And of course, these unwavering values might upset the status quo. But you don’t mind. The way you see it, sometimes the status quo needs upsetting!
10) You have influence over others
Because genuine boldness is a rare attribute in this world, when others see a real bold person they tend to admire and look up to this type of person. The charisma you exude is contagious.
Your energy is awe-inspiring, and people tend to gravitate toward you. It’s no coincidence that many of the most influential leaders in history have been bold and radical in their ability to lead and inspire.
11) You’re a natural-born leader
The great thing about being able to influence others? It makes you a leader.
When times get tough, you’re one of the first to take action. You don’t panic, you stay collected and cool. You lead by example. You communicate effectively and look people in the eye.
Naturally, people will frequently commend you and your leadership qualities and eventually follow you. You are always in control of your emotions and can act and deliver in times of crisis.
12) You’re not scared of change
One of the most common fears we collectively harbor as a species is a fear of change. Change means uncertainty, and people generally don’t like uncertainty.
Generally speaking, society finds the comfort of routine and predictability appealing and safe. Anything more might materialize as stress.
But not you. Instead of being scared, you tend to get excited when faced with the prospect of change. This is because bold people tend to embrace the new.
13) You find small talk tedious
Although you might have a high-risk tolerance, you have a lower tolerance for other things, such as small talk.
That’s because you’re focused on the bigger picture of life and achieving it–you find anything less a distraction.
While other people are sidetracked by mundane social interactions or monotonous get-togethers, you’re constantly doing your own thing, completely focused on the task at hand.
14) You’re not constantly seeking attention
Speaking of distraction, here’s another insight into the bold and fearless individual: they are aware of the fact that attention-seeking is just a means to validation and a common trait among insecure people.
In contrast, fearless people get their validation through the satisfaction of achieving their goals and making a difference in life rather than social media likes or empty self-promotion.
When it comes to bold people like yourself, you often let your actions do the talking.
15) You’re always honest, maybe even brutal
And when you do talk, you don’t beat around the bush. You aren’t coy when expressing opinions.
A bold person is true to himself or herself, considering honesty a core value. Injustice and wrong flourish when people are silent.
Bold people will speak up when they feel it’s necessary. You’re honest with yourself and others.
16) You’re brave
Being truly honest takes a great degree of courage. Let’s be real, although we use the word “fearless”, it’s perfectly natural (and even healthy) to have fears.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.”
The difference between a bold and fearless person over the rest is they don’t let their fears take control of the situation. You may be nervous or scared, but you don’t let those feelings win. Instead, you work in the face of fear.
Many people don’t get what they want in life because their fears are holding them back. These people might not live up to their potential and regret it when it’s too late. A bold person, however, realizes this and will act even when scared.
Even with seemingly herculean tasks, bold people like you tend to achieve success in life because you don’t dilly-dally; you face challenges head-on.
17) You own your flaws
While an insecure or uncertain person might not be open about their flaws and instead regularly boast about successes, you go the other direction. You have the conviction to embrace your shortcomings.
A significant aspect of being bold or fearless is the unique ability to confront everything head-on. Bold people have a tolerance for stressful situations that others don’t, something that extends to facing their own flaws or limitations.
That’s because you have the wisdom to acknowledge that the perfect person doesn’t exist. You aren’t shy about your weaknesses and constantly try to improve on them.
Final thoughts
Do you recognize yourself in this list? If so, congratulations, you’re a bold and fearless person! You’re part of a pretty rare and exclusive club.
You act in the face of fear, you’re quietly confident, aren’t afraid of risks, and never stop learning. These are all gifts that set you apart from the rest and will take you far in life, provided you use them wisely.
