Stepping Into Your Courage

One of the most common statements I hear is, “I really want to do X, but I just don’t feel like I have the ability, time, resources or the right to spend time doing it.  To me, the words, ability, time, right and resources are just code words for fear.   When we want to do something that’s a little scary or out of the ordinary we come up with all sorts of excuses to mask our fear.  Our fear can stem from trying something new, from the possibility of disappointing someone, from taking too much time for ourselves or from the realization that we may not be successful.  We talk ourselves out of doing what we want because we aren’t sure how to deal with the fear.

The antidote to fear is courage.  I am not talking about heroic, pull someone from a burning building kind of courage.  I am talking about a more quiet kind of courage.   I believe that everyone has all the courage they need to do whatever they want to do residing inside them.  The trick is to connect with that courage, to become aware of where it resides in you and how to tap into its strength.   Courage doesn’t necessarily make the fear go away, but it does allow us to move forward with our life and do the things that are important to us.

Is there something you want to do, but find yourself having trouble taking that first step?  If so, here is an exercise you can try to help connect and build your courage.  These are relatively simple tasks, but I think at least some of them will elicit some fear.

1.    Take a new route to work.  

2.    Listen to a different kind of music.

3.    Wear something that is completely counter to your normal dress style.

4.    Talk to a stranger on the street or bus.

5.    Eat out/or cook a ethnic meal that you have not tried before.

As you do this exercise pay attention to what kicks up for you. 

1.    What are the voices telling you? (This is dumb, I don’t have time, This is too easy, etc)

2.    What is happening inside you both physically/psychologically? (Do you feel fear?)

3.    Did you complete the task?

4.    If so, how did you feel?

5.    If not, what got in your way?

Each time we step out and do something that pushes our comfort level, we become more confident in ourselves.  Our courage grows and we are not as handcuffed by fear.  We see how fear works and once that happens, fear loses a lot of it power.  When that happens we get our life back.

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror.  I can take the next thing that comes along.’  You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt