How do I build the courage to challenge something I know is wrong at work?

Courage isn't the absence of fear—Sor Juana understood that well. It's moving forward despite the fear, and that starts with permission. Permission to feel the weight of what you've seen. Permission to be afraid. Permission to ask for help. Most people don't suddenly become brave; they become brave incrementally. Start by naming what's wrong to yourself clearly, without softening it. Then tell someone you trust. Not to convince them, just to say it aloud. Notice how it feels. Connect with others who see what you see—isolation makes courage harder. Read or listen to stories of people who've done similar things; it makes the path feel less impossible. Consider what you can live with: living with speaking up, or living with silence? That clarity often cuts through the fog of fear. You might also reframe this: you're not being courageous for the institution's sake. You're being courageous for the people being harmed, including your future self. That distinction—acting for something, not against someone—can feel steadier.