Every day the media inundates you with stories of bold individuals who have taken a stand against injustice, risked their lives for others, or performed some other heroic action. Every day some new hero emerges from the trenches, victorious and beloved. Don’t get me wrong, the world needs those people. However, the world also needs people that are capable of ordinary acts of bravery. Here are five acts of everyday bravery that can change your life.

(Photo via BLDG 25)

1. Take responsibility.

Stop going along with what you think everyone else is doing. Take responsibility for your actions and the words you are putting out into the world. Once you start holding yourself accountable, you recognize higher standards for yourself and those around you. These standards will drive you to start making positive changes and becoming someone you would want as a role model.

2. Say "no."

There is bravery in saying “no” to things that make you uncomfortable. At a fundamental level, you know what is right and what is wrong. Call it a gut instinct. Sometimes, all it takes is one person saying no to a bad idea to prevent an entire situation from worsening. You might feel like the “fun killer," but that gut instinct and your conscience could save your life, or someone else’s life.

3. Stand up for others.

Take a minute out of your day to stand up for someone else. This doesn’t mean you have to go full-on knight in shining armor. It means that you recognize that they are an individual worth respect and treat them as such, even when others don’t. Sure, it can be scary, but imagine being on the receiving end, alone. The gratification of helping someone else is instant.

4. Love with your heart wide open.

The human experience is beautiful because we feel such a vast range of emotions. To love without exception is terrifying. It means opening yourself up to pain and disappointment. It can also bring you unparalleled joy and fulfillment. Opening yourself up to others is truly brave because you can never be sure of the outcome, but you can sure as hell count on it being an important experience.

5. Try again.

We are fallible and flawed. Mistakes are inevitable. Deciding to pick yourself up and try to be better tomorrow is the most ordinary act of bravery in the world. You agree to give yourself a second chance and refuse to give up. That makes all of the difference in the world.

These actions might not scream "bravery" or "heroism," but they can make an incredible difference on a day-to-day level. Every day, you are given a chance to do something remarkable and extraordinary. As written by author Veronica Roth, “We believe in ordinary acts of bravery."

Do you?