What is Courage?
Have you really asked yourself what is COURAGE?
During one of my group coaching sessions, my mentor made a comment that truly shifted for me what courage really is. He stated that “Courage is the ability to take action in the face of fear.” This distinction changed everything for me as it gave me greater clarity. It made me question myself if I had ever been courageous in my life.
I never really felt courageous in my life until I started to reflect on the key moments in my life. It was during this moment that I realized that I have indeed been courageous all along, but had never really paid much attention to it. This realization put a big smile on my face.
Let me share the moments that came to mind when I sat in silence to recollect when I was courageous.
I was courageous when at 6 years of age I asked the horse handler to step aside and took off on the horse trotting while the handler ran behind the horse afraid I would fall; when I let go of my life in Pakistan and immigrated to the US for a better life at age 17 with my family; when I said yes to marry my husband when I had known him in person for only 14 days as he lived out of state; when I divorced my husband after finding myself in an abusive relationship; when I resigned from my long-standing job when I felt the values of our department were no longer in alignment with my personal values of providing quality service with integrity and compassion; when I left my highest paying job to pursue my soul’s calling to become and entrepreneur and work with women who feel lost, confused and riddled with negative emotions after being divorced.
These actions were taken by me even when fear kept staring me in the face. It may have taken me months or sometimes even years to have taken these courageous steps in my life, but I took them anyway. Can you count when was the last time you were courageous?
Simple Steps on Becoming Courageous:
➜ Reflect in silence on what needs to change in your life that no longer feeds your soul.
➜ Ask “What would Courage have me Do?” Then, commit yourself to taking small, bold steps to achieve the desired outcomes. Breath in Courage; Exhale Fear!