Courage is usually associated with acts of heroics or facing life’s toughest challenges. The recent rescue of the 12 children and their soccer coach from deep within the caves of Thailand, showed courage, not only by the rescuers but also the children and coach who sat in darkness for many days waiting to be found and rescued.
We see courage in those who are facing personal battles, such as my friend, Denyse Whelan who has shared her battle with Cancer and her journey through her blog.
My MIL and others, like her, who came to a foreign land by boat, with only a suitcase, their husbands and children and unable to speak the language.
We are all inspired by those who show courage BUT we all have that courage within us and can draw on that courage even in daily life.
In my recent post, It’s Never too late to embrace life, I wrote about feeling restless and wanting to make changes in my life. I am looking for my ‘What’s Next?’. It’s never too late to make changes but CHANGE requires courage as change can be daunting. Most of us fear making changes which will disrupt our comfortable life.
We fear making changes because we don’t know if the change will be better or not. The grass may not be greener after all.
“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs
This quote from Steve Jobs reminds me of how I’m feeling at the moment. I know in my heart and ‘gut’ what I would like to do or change but do I have the courage to make the changes?
5 effective ways finding your courage will improve your life
Finding your courage to make changes or face any fear or challenge will improve your life through the experiences and learnings.
It takes Courage to:-
1. Accept that you might fail
Part of taking the leap and having the courage to make changes is accepting that you might not succeed the first time. Courage in taking the risk to find out is worth so much more than not trying at all. You don’t want to live with ‘if only’s’.
2. Overcome your fears
Yes, we have all read this in self-help books and sometimes it is easier said than done. However, fear can be overcome. Finding the courage to face our fears head on isn’t easy but once you do, the feeling of euphoria, satisfaction and joy is worth it all.
3. Plan
Taking a step back to evaluate exactly where you are and where you would like to be, will help you make changes. Sometimes this takes courage because you have to be honest with yourself and how you are feeling. Perhaps you won’t really like what you find, but know in your heart that where you want to be is right for YOU. We can’t live our lives continually trying to please others. It takes courage to make a plan and put it into place.
4. Take it slowly
Change, or whatever fear or challenge you are facing, may not be easy to overcome immediately. Taking baby steps out of your comfort zone towards overcoming your fear will build strength and courage. Look at it like a marathon run. Yes it is long and hard but you can do it. You need to train and take each run at your own pace so that you can cross that finish line.
5. Take action
As I mentioned before, we don’t want to live with ‘if only’s’ because we are afraid of failing or just afraid. Taking positive action and ‘following your heart and intuition’, no matter the outcome, builds your strength and resilience to life. You aren’t just stagnating, you are moving. Hopefully you are moving forward but sometimes the journey may take unexpected twists and turns.
Is there something in your life that needs you to be courageous? Are you willing to face that fear?
Replace the ‘if only’s’ with ‘I will’
58 Comments
I’ve got an answer to your first question, Sue. You DO have the courage to make the changes that your heart and gut are telling you to make. You absolutely do. I believe in you.
Oh your comment helps so much Karen. Knowing that others believe in you is so supportive and helpful. Have a beautiful week, my friend. xx
I came across a business strategy at work the other day that was about continuous improvement 1% at a time. Tiny changes that accumulate to humungous one over time, but so small that you don’t notice it. I think approaching courage can also be like that. One small step then another and another.
Hi Jo, that is how I approach training – a little at a time. For example, training for a long run, just adding an extra 1km each time certainly builds up and it isn’t to hard to achieve. x
Jo, 1% at a time is a manageable way to approach change. Thanks for sharing this strategy. It’s doable and it’s ongoing. Works for me!
SSG xxx
It definitely takes courage to take action – that first step is often so difficult because you have to overcome that little voice in your head telling you that you can’t do something. And I totally agree with you that we all have the capacity to be courageous in our daily lives when we need to be. It’s not all about heroic actions.
That inner voice certainly has a lot to answer for sometimes, doesn’t it? Taking that first step is hard but once we do it get easier with each step. Have a great week, Katherine! xx
Taking it slowly is a great point and one I need to keep in mind right now as I look for both a new job and new place to live. I apparently don’t do change by halves!!
Oh Vanessa, you don’t do things by halves do you! Best of luck with the new direction in your life xx
I like your line about replacing ‘if only’ with ‘I will’. We are indeed master of our own destiny.
Hi Chris, indeed we are. Unfortunately, sometimes we just procrastinate and life and opportunities pass us by. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by xx
Love the spin you put on this week’s prompt! Great post
Thanks so much Becky for visiting and leaving your comment. Glad you enjoyed my point of view and have a great week! x
It does take courage to step out in a direction that is full of unknowns. Even so, I usually want to make the changes quickly, and life doesn’t work that way. Planning well, taking things a step at a time and knowing that not everything I want to do is the best thing for me (so it may fail) is a healthy approach. Thanks for these great reminders!
Hi Candi, I’m impatient at times but I’m learning that to achieve I might have to fail on the first attempt or take it slowly. I’m learning constantly about facing challenges and fears and how to deal with them. Have a beautiful week, Candi! x
Love the post, Sue. Yes, courage over fears and change is a big thing for many of us. I was in absolute knots with the learning curve attached to the controls behind my blog and then the fear of putting myself out into the black hole of the internet. It is much better now after 2-1/2 months in, I have come to terms with it being a steady process, and much more to learn which is okay. I think we can all be kind of hard “self-bosses” on ourselves which can build fear, at least I am. Digging deep for courage to overcome change, fear and hesitation is certainly a methodical, slower process than I want to allow myself, patience is a good thing to learn in parallel with it. I am sending you my guest post this week, working on it right now, talk soon! 😀
Lori Jo – “50 With Flair”
http://www.50withflair.com
I was like you Lori Jo when I started my blog. I kept feeling I had to produce all the time and took too many ‘how to’ courses which just confused me. Taking slower steps to face your fears helps to avoid being overwhelmed and gives you time to adjust. I’m looking forward to your guest post! Have a great day! xx
Sue,
It is true, isn’t it. That courage comes from within. Also that we do need to accept that we may fail, not definitely but may. One of the things I’ve realised as I’ve gotten older is that failing is only a possibility not a certainty. And if you fail? Another door opens.
SSG xxx
Thankfully, right now I have nothing I need to change that takes courage – patience and discipline perhaps…thanks for the thought-provoking post.
We don’t always have to make changes Janet do we? You must be in a good place at the moment which is great!
Courage is definitely something I’ve had to work on over the years Sue. I don’t cope well with change and uncertainty – I like all my ducks in a row! But I’m definitely getting better at letting go the need for everything to fit perfectly and turn out exactly right – that frees me up to step out and be braver (and it’s quite liberating!)
Hi Leanne, I am the same and although I have had many changes in my life I do like to know the ‘plan’. Through you and other bloggers I’ve learned to let go and step out of my comfort zone more often. It is liberating that is for sure 🙂
Hi Sue – off to another great start for #MLSTL – thanks for partnering with me in it – and I’ve shared your post on my SM xx
Hi Leanne, it has been a great response this week! Loving all the posts too. xx
I loved your thoughts on this prompt. I thought the one about your MIL particularly interesting as my grandmother came to Australia from England after falling in love with an Aussie soldier in WW1. To leave your home country and not know if you will ever return takes courage. Sadly for her she never did get back ‘home’ as she called it. The one step at a time approach with change is something you the runner would know well. Sometimes I forget it can be like that and leap ahead too fast.
Thank you for including me in your post. Always appreciate your kindness.
Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek 29/52. Next week’s optional prompt is Share Your Snaps. Denyse
There are some wonderful stories of our previous generations, Denyse. I went to a funeral last week for a lady who was 101. She had come from Greece back in the 30’s and such a fascinating story. I would love to put a book together about women of that generation.
I agree with you Sue that baby steps are best when facing a fear or something new. For me, breaking it down into small chunks makes the task seen more doable or achievalble and less confronting
Sometimes I get carried away, Jen and try to do it all a once. That is when I fail. Slow and baby steps are the way for me to achieve my goals. x
Sue – just an FYI that I received a comment from you to my comment – but it isn’t showing up here.
Hi Janet, I checked and I can see my reply to you. Perhaps you need to refresh your browser? x
Got it now! Thanks!
🙂
Hi Sue, I hope all is going well with you. I know that whatever you decide to do you will do well as you are passionate and thoughtful. It is by small increments that we change and move forward and the steps listed in your post are exactly the right way to go. Good luck my friend xx
Hi Deb thank you for your supportive words, as always. I won’t be setting the world on fire but I’ll be continuing this wonderful journey called ‘life’. xx
I still have so much to learn about blogging but if not for a fateful phone call I made to a radio show here in America I’d still be sitting on the sideline waiting for the “right” time to start my blog. The host encouraged me to start my blog as soon as I got off the phone with him. Before I had a chance to think about it and “chicken out”, I did just that. Six weeks later here I am, and I’m having the time of my life! Thanks, Sue.
Good for you Kim and sometimes we just have to close our eyes and jump, don’t we? If we waited for the ‘right time’ it might never come so congratulations on making your blog happen and it has been great to connect with you. Have a great week! xx
You DO have the courage, Sue., and you’ll succeed in what you choose to do. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I like #5 the most.
Thank you Natalie for the faith you have in me 🙂 Yes, #5 – taking action. Sometimes we just have to close our eyes and jump, don’t we? Have a beautiful week and thanks for stopping by xx
I do things that scare the hell out of me all the time!
Now that is the attitude of someone who gets things done, Christine! Have a great week!
Great post Sue, Accept that you might fail is a good one. But I actually don’t like the word “fail”. I’ve tried to remove it from the vocab. When putting in effort and at least “trying” we are still receiving a result. It may not be the result we were hoping for, but we still get results none-the-less.
You make a great point Leanne and perhaps that is how I should approach the word also. I feel that way about Diet. I try not to use that word because it can have such a negative impact on our lives and health. 🙂
Yes, Sue. Yes to everything you just said about courage and facing your fears. I recently came to the realization that I hadn’t completed a project that is important to me because I was afraid of making a mistake or looking foolish. A coach helped me recognize other times in my life that I felt I had made mistakes that actually had positive results. I learned things. I gained skills. I became more resilient. I discovered what I did not want in life. It was freeing to me to realize the act of pursuing the goal is beneficial in and of itself. If somewhere along the line, I decide to pursue a different path, or I fall short of the goal, my efforts won’t be wasted. From what I know of you, you are a courageous and determined person, and I’m confident you will pursue your new dreams. I’m eager to see where it takes you!
Your coach made a good point in helping your recognise that even though you felt like you made mistakes there were actually positive results. Usually we focus on the negatives rather than the learnings or positives which we also experience. I’m not sure where I’m headed but I’m keen to explore all options. Have a great week, Christie xx
Great thoughts on courage and how finding that courage can be such a benefit in our lives. I love that you also share actions steps that we can use to implement in our lives.
MLSTL & sharing on SM.
My goodness, you’ve filled up quick this week!!
Hi Trisha Faye thanks for sharing and also joining us at #MLSTL. It has filled up quite quickly this week and although we are tempted to open the numbers, we don’t want it to grow too big and become a ‘link a run’ type of link up. Have a great week! xx
One of my favourite memes is that FEAR stands for False Expectations Appearing Real, that has always stuck with me because it is basically true. One of the tools I like to use when facing a big and scary change is to think about the worst case scenario and create a plan B for dealing with that worst case should it occur. I have found that really helpful. Sharing your post and thanks for the linkup xx
Oh I love that Jan! I might use it myself with your permission. A plan B is a good idea and one I hadn’t thought of. Thanks for sharing and I just love that I’m connected with wise women like yourself. I always learn from all of my connections. Have a great week! xx
Fear of failure is one of those things that stop people all the time. They are afraid to fail and expect to be perfect the first time they try something. As a yoga teacher, I would hear a lot of people say that they can’t do yoga because they don’t know how to do a pose or because their body won’t let them do the pose perfectly. That’s when I would point out it’s called ‘yoga practice’ not ‘yoga perfect.’ We get there one step at a time, one practice at a time.
Oh love that Jennifer – ‘yoga practice’ not ‘yoga perfect’. I was probably one of those people but since trying yoga with my personal trainer about two years ago I just love it. I realise I’m not as flexible as some but that is the beauty of yoga it is not a competition and doesn’t compare. Fear of failure is such a hurdle for us all to overcome but when we do we feel fabulous. xx
I like the saying that fear and faith are both asking us to believe in something we can’t see so we need to go with faith. Faith that we have all we need to move forward into something wonderful.
What a great way to look at life, Victoria and I’m going to run with that idea. 🙂
Sue, I saw something the other day that made me wonder about my fears and courage. “When asking for guidance or help from the Universe, are you willing to hear the answer?” Not necessarily fear of failure, but fear of where the path forward might take me. Made me stop & think for sure! Stopping in from MLSTL…thanks for continuing to host this!
Oh that is so true, Pat. Most of us don’t ask the question because we won’t like the answer, rather than keeping an open mind. Thank you for being part of the #MLSTL community I love all of our members who link up and learn so much from you all. xx
Overcoming fears is the biggest bugaboo! I just watched a video of an extremely talented young artist/writer whose comic series has been picked up as a TV show for a second season. In a moving YouTube video, he shared how he couldn’t believe it at first because he didn’t think he deserved it. Wow!
Hello Linda and it is lovely to hear from you! What a wonderful story and how humble the young man was thinking he didn’t deserve it. That is our problem isn’t it? We don’t believe we deserve good things in life and that is such a shame. If we are open and realise our value then life is full of possibilities. Have a beautiful week. xx
I especially love e.e.cummings quote: ” it takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” I believe this #MLSTL movement (community) is totally about this kind of courage. And I am forever grateful to have found you. Your courage inspires so many of us, Sue. Thank you!
Hello Molly and thank you so much for your encouraging words. I’m so glad I have found a network of women who are like-minded and yet I learn so much from you all. I love the #MLSTL community and so pleased that we started it. I’m looking forward to your next instalment based on Julia Cameron’s book. Have a beautiful week, Molly.