An interesting read.
courage has many layers one of them is the ability to look straight and face value oneself, without this one will forever remain the same.

Isn't this applicable to the national and possibly global psyche? Change isn't easy or familiar. Motivation and focus seem to be the tools necessary to break free from any habit or behavior.
Hypnosis, self or otherwise may also be effective.
Self image is not entirely a conscious aspect of our psyche and can be influenced by subtle events that don't register equally or even similarly from individual to individual.
We could all probably use some professional help.

If we set ourselves up to fail

then manage to squeak by and not 100% blow it.

Then we have made it successful, in our own skewed minds at least.

As a business owner, I see this behavior all the time.

Humans are such complicated beings.

"There is only one reason for an individual to side-step to the useless side : the fear of a defeat on the useful side." Alfred Adler