Creating Space For Courage
Share
Have you ever stood at the edge of a decision, paralyzed by doubt, unable to take that leap? Too many times, I've been there, frozen by the weight of uncertainty. This is a moment where courage would serve you well—a virtue that bridges the gap between fear and action. All virtues swing on a pendulum: too far right, and courage becomes recklessness; too far left, cowardice. In other words, excess on one side, deficiency on the other. We want to hit that sweet spot in the middle. Are there conversations you're avoiding? How does that feel? What gap is it creating inside you? It's a daily choice to fill that space with courage instead of anxiety, fear, doubt, shame, or guilt. The exciting part? Choose courage enough times, and eventually, it becomes second nature.
Do you ever ask yourself, “Why haven’t I got this yet?” or “Why haven’t I talked to that person?” or “How come I never seem to follow through?” There have been a few business ideas that I've gotten really excited about, pouring enormous amounts of energy into them during the initial planning phase. Motivation, enthusiasm, and optimism hit all-time highs. However, once it was time to implement—making phone calls for advice or launching ads and marketing—the momentum would subside. Ultimately, it stemmed from fear of failure and lacking the courage to trust the process I'd planned. This would snowball until I had no more ability to act, no more courage to step up and move forward. Business dead.
Here's the great news, once you spark the flame of courage inside yourself, buckle up! When you walk with courage, you walk differently—you talk differently. You become more resilient, seeing setbacks as just that: a step backward, not the end of times. Facing a fear, like public speaking, and feeling proud afterward boosts your self-esteem. Psychology studies have shown that courageous actions release dopamine, enhancing motivation and well-being—creating a positive feedback loop: be courageous, release dopamine, gain motivation, keep being courageous! It wasn’t until I stopped fearing putting my work out into the world that I found success and saw opportunities open up. I want nothing more than for you to experience that switch from surviving to thriving. You have to develop courage to get there.
I often ask myself, “Do I want to run the day, or let the day run me?” When I wake up and it's time for the gym but I don’t want to get out of bed, I ask, “Do I want to lay in bed more than I want the gym's benefits?” I won’t lie—sometimes my purple bed wins. What’s important isn’t perfection; it's showing up more times than not. Practice daily micro-acts, like snacking a little less or having a conversation with someone new. Understand that cultivating courage engages vulnerability, which is powerful. It will feel uncomfortable at times—that’s okay. When overwhelmed, sit in a quiet spot and try basic breathing exercises. A simple box breathing: breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, repeat. Stack this with visualizing success, as it's proven to help build that inner resolve.
Life is serious and life is fun. Especially when you have the courage to live it! Focus on the little wins from practicing courage. Find others to support and be supported by. My favorite starting point? Having the courage to love yourself.