Riya enjoyed drawing and solving puzzles, but she never spoke up in class. Whenever the teacher asked a question, she stared at her desk, hoping no one would notice her. Inside, a quiet voice whispered,
“If you speak up, everyone will laugh.”
One evening, Riya’s older sister saw her looking sadly at her sketchbook. “What’s wrong, Riya?” she asked gently.
Riya hesitated, then shared her fear. Her sister listened patiently and smiled. “Let’s try something,” she said. “Close your eyes and imagine the bravest Riya. What does she do? How does she feel?”
Riya closed her eyes and pictured herself sitting up straight, taking a deep breath, and sharing her idea with confidence.
“Be that brave Riya tomorrow,” her sister said.
The next morning, Riya felt nervous, but she remembered the brave version of herself. She sat up straight, and when the teacher asked about planets, she slowly raised her hand.
“Mars has a volcano called Olympus Mons,” she said, her voice quiet but steady.
The classroom became silent. No one laughed. The teacher smiled proudly. “That’s absolutely right, Riya! Would you like to share more?”
A warm wave of pride filled Riya’s heart. The next week, she spoke up again, and then again. Each time, the scared voice became softer, and a new, steady voice grew stronger: “You can do this. You are brave.”
Moral: Bravery is not about never feeling afraid. It is about daring to act even when fear is present. Sometimes, acting brave is the first step to discovering the courage that has been inside you all along.
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