Hello friends and welcome to another weekly episode. This week’s topic is COURAGE.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about COURAGE. I’ve considered how it shows up in my life, when it does and doesn’t, and more importantly, how might I continue to develop more of it?
Where does courage come from? Courage doesn’t come from Google, but I’ll look there regardless.
A quick GOOGLE search would suggest the following - “The root of the word courage is cor - the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds.”
So…how do we start to gain more courage in our lives, not just in times or great trial but also in the day-to-day?
My personal belief is that the greatest act of courage for each one of us, is when we exercise the COURAGE TO LIVE TRUE.
The dichotomy of courage exists where external influences (love and trust) might strengthen one’s ability to go into the danger, while at the same time the movement comes from an internal commitment to take risk in spite of the fear and repercussions of those external to us, even those we…(love and trust.) That personal choice to go forward, in spite of the danger, is profoundly responsible for the providence we seek in our lives. I believe that lasting courage must come from within and practiced to sustain those lonely moments when we face the very personal and sacred opportunity of growth.
But what happens when the FEAR is so great that we stall and vacillate in CHOICE?
Brendon Burchard said of FEAR - “Outside of fears for physical health in dangerous situations, what we most often fear are three things. First, we fear LOSS PAIN – that by changing or advancing in our lives we will lose something important to us. Second, we fear PROCESS PAIN – that the mere act or process of changing will be too hard for us. Third, we fear OUTCOME PAIN – that all the effort we put into changing may not lead to a better outcome in our lives, that the “grass might not be greener.”
Let me suggest 5 primers as you work to develop more COURAGE in your life:
1. Identify and reflect on a time in your life where you felt most courageous. What was unique about it?
2. Are there areas in your life right now you know you could be stepping up?
3. Is there anyone in your life you feel you should be more honest with than you have been?
4. If you had more courage today, what would you stop doing right now?
5. If you had more courage today, what would you start doing?
When it comes to the important relationships in our lives, there are people that want to hear what’s really on our mind, what needs we might have, and more importantly what the ambitions of our heart might be? There are incredible people standing by, waiting to cheer us on.
By not sharing these things, what might it be costing you? As you recognize and feel that indeed there is a cost, who will you courageously engage in the next five days with the things you have been holding back from them?
If you seek more confidence; If you seek more consistency; If you seek more congruency in your life; I promise that it all lies on the other side of bold action, derived in COURAGE, and on the other side of that single courageous step forward!
I believe in these courageous moments, we come HOME : the wonders of life are met with peace and assurance of long held perspectives tangled with the new. Warm and enveloping yet cool and crisp awakening. It keeps you and sets you free. More music if felt between the notes than chords played. There’s a silence. A quiet and soft hand laid upon your cheek saying hello and a searing gaze and smile that pierces the soul. It’s living yet so engrained and historic. Walking and feeling everything flow through you. It’s a living and breathing moment that captures and releases the soul. Everything stashed becomes a new treasure to behold. It’s familiar. It’s a splendid reunion. It’s a soul filled adventure. A world built for you. HOME.
This is the opportunity, found only, in the COURAGE required for living true.
Remember that GROWTH is always a choice.