Principle #3 – Use Courage to Pursue your Passion
Have you heard that if someone is courageous, they are fearless? I believe everyone is afraid at one time or another. Often times we don’t think about courage and where it comes from. It’s plain and simple…it comes from fear. That’s not a bad thing; it builds our confidence and gives us inner strength to face and overcome these fears and live a courageous life.
During the 4th of July weekend, my family and I celebrated with the neighbors. The guys set off fireworks, and my grandson and I lit sparklers. A little 6-year-old boy came over wanting to hold a sparkler, but he was afraid. He stood really close to me as I was lighting other sparklers. I asked him if he wanted to have one. He told me yes but didn’t take a sparkler. I asked him if he was a little nervous, and he said yes. I told him it was okay to be scared, and I had confidence that he would try when he was ready.
As the night wore on, more children came over and joined our sparkler party. After a little while, the little 6-year-old boy came over and again wanted to try to hold a sparkler, and I gave him one. I squatted down and showed him how to hold his arm out and explained how to be safe. And I mentioned how courageous he was and that I was proud of him. He courageously held his sparkler in one little hand and hugged me with his other one. I loved watching him as he struggled through his process of facing and overcoming his fear.
“One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”
– Maya Angelou
Most of us face our fears every day and might not even notice. This might be because sometimes, our fears may be small, and we can easily handle them. How’s that for a thought…we are courageous and may not realize it! Go us!
Small fears actually help us build self-confidence and strength. And this is what allows us to find the courage to face the BIG fears. It’s the big fears that are the scariest, like changing jobs, relocating, or getting out of a bad relationship.
“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face…we must do that which we think we cannot.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
It’s okay and totally normal to be afraid. The big question is, how do we defeat these fears? Some people live their lives afraid of everything. Fear has a way of dictating our decisions and actions. Therefore, we miss opportunities and things that are important to us. And, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss a thing!
“We can’t live our life afraid. We are meant to live it with joy and without fear.”
– Dana Smith, a quote from Jungle: A Journey to Peace, Purpose, and Freedom
What helps me overcome fear is to acknowledge being afraid and to examine what is making me apprehensive. When I name it and tame it, my courage kicks in, and it moves me forward to conquer my anxiety. Otherwise, it overpowers and paralyzes me. And I know that’s not a healthy way to solve anything. Check out this article about living your life with courage.
“You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.”
– Brené Brown
Finding the courage to face and overcome your worries is powerful! And it can make a big difference in your life. So, if you feel stuck and know you must make changes, don’t let your anxieties control you. Live your life with courage! Remember to name it, tame it, and use your courage to propel you toward a happier life and a happier “you.” How awesome is that?
Freedom is possible!
Love,
Deb