Having the courage to overcome life's challenges can have some amazing results in your life.
he unexpected curve balls that life throws our way are challenging.
Common occurrences like losing your job, having your relationship
breakdown, or coping with caring for aging parents force change upon
you. Life’s curve balls tend to shake you up in order to wake you up.
Learning to thrive and come out the other end of it better and wiser
certainly requires a lot of courage. But sometimes courage can be hard
to find.
We all have times when we wake up in the middle of the night in a
state of panic and fear. I’m talking about those moments when you wake
up like you’ve somehow defibrillated yourself awake. Your palms sweaty,
it takes all your focus in order to take a single, deep belly breath to
regain your center again. I’ve had more than a few mornings like that
myself many times – when I decided to get divorced, when I decided to
start my first business, when I decided to write a book, and so on.
This place of fear and contraction is simply part of the path
those of us wanting to make a difference and unleash our full
brilliance and potential walk. Whenever you step up to a new
level of your brilliance, these “dark nights of the soul” come upon us.
So the question is not whether these fear “pit stops” can be avoided,
but how can you move through them quickly and masterfully when they do
happen?One outrageously courageous woman was Helen Keller. She said:
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is
no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught
as often as the bold. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
Let’s take our cue from Helen. Let’s find our courage and boldness and keep taking brilliant action towards our dreams. Here are a few tips I recommend when you need to draw upon an extra dose of courage to get you through those fearful moments.
Connect to Your Vision – Remember why you decided
to start on this adventure of change in the first place. Whether you’re
leading your business or leaving a relationship, what is the vision you
have – for yourself and those around you – that beckoned you to take
action and move out of your comfort zone.
Dig Deep for the Wisdom – Instead of getting
steamrollered by fears and the voice of your inner critic, realize that
there is some valuable information and wisdom for you. Is there
something you’ve overlooked or some piece that needs to be put in place
first before you take that next leap of faith? Instead of trying to shut
down your fears, consider that it’s simply time to do some extra
digging to make sure you are fully prepared for the next step.
Being Brilliant isn’t Always Comfortable – If
you’re feeling fear and doubt, it’s often because you are taking some
major steps outside of your current comfort zone. And that is a good
thing! Unleashing your brilliance isn’t always easy or comfortable. If
you’re feeling the squeeze of fear, realize you’re just getting another
opportunity to flex and strengthen your courage muscles.
Take Inspired Action – It can be easy to get stuck
like a deer in the headlights when you get caught up in a wave of fear.
The best antidote to analysis paralysis and tapping into your courage is
to take action. Even taking a small baby step can help ramp up your
momentum and confidence, and help the fears and doubts to subside.
Success Strategist, coach and award-winning author, Carolyn B. Ellis, is the Founder of BrillianceMastery.com and ThrivePrinciples.com. Her Brilliance Mastery program supports women entrepreneurs to own their brilliance so the mission of their business can be communicated clearly, powerfully and profitably. She is the creator of the Unleash Your Brilliance Summit and a certified Money, Marketing & Soul Coach. She publishes "Bits of Brilliance", a weekly e-newsletter that offers inspiration, wisdom and support for the woman entrepreneur or business owner who is committed to living her brilliance. For more information and to get a copy of her special report “The 7 Secrets to Unlocking Your Brilliance as a Woman Entrepreneur”, visit www.BrillianceMastery.com
