If you look at courage and if you look at the brain, there is one particular brain structure that plays a very important role when it comes to courage and your own performance. This part of the brain is called the amygdala. The amygdala is a brain structure that is very small, and we have two of them, one of the left side of the brain, one on the right side of the brain. They’re very small and look like an almond. Amygdala is also the Latin word for almond. Even though they are small, they amygdala is also extremely powerful. It plays a very important role in our survival. Whenever there is a real danger outside, it will trigger a fight, flight or freeze response, so you will fight danger, run away, or just be blocked in your own emotions, you will freeze, perhaps you will hide. The amygdala is very important for our survival and for many emotions in general, but in many situations, the amygdala will also become active when there is no real danger, for example, standing on stage and holding a presentation, leading a difficult conversation. These are two examples where there’s no real danger, but nevertheless, the amygdala can be triggered and cause this feeling of nervousness and anxiety. It’s these feelings of nervousness, anxiety or insecurity that will also block us in our potential to hold a presentation or to lead a good conversation.