The dance between fear and aspiration
For the past 2 months, I had more time to read and I finished 4 books.
When I reflected, 3 out of the 4 books were about courage. I did not set out to choose these books because I had a theme in mind.
I guess, I was drawn towards them because I wanted to have more courage.
I needed courage.
The three books were Daring Greatly (Brene Brown), Courage to be Disliked (Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi), and Smile at Fear (Chogyam Trungpa).
When you start to step out of your comfort zone, fears and insecurity have a way of creeping up on you.
You become more careful and more people-pleasing.
That’s when you lose your shine and your ability to make decisions that you truly believe in.
In my journey, it’s a tango of fear and courage, uncertainty and confidence.
It’s a dance of my excitement about the journey I am embarking on and my fear of not being able to “make it”.
So, I have been leaning into courage.
Courage to acknowledge that not everyone will agree and like the decisions I have made, and that it’s okay.
Courage to try things and learn from what’s working and what’s not.
Courage to acknowledge that I may not be as good as I want to be yet, and that I can put in effort to become better.
Courage to accept that relationships will change and evolve in this process.
Courage to allow myself to feel disappointed when things did not turn out the way I wanted them to.
I have accepted that it’s not about the absence of fear, but rather the decision to move boldly in its presence.
Just like nurturing a garden, your courage needs intentional nurturing. The more you shy away from it, the more fear swallows you whole.
You are strong and resilient, and in you, there is the seed of courage.
It is painful to live under the shadow of fear.
I know it because, for years, I have stayed put because I was afraid.
The thing is, having started to walk despite feeling afraid, I can feel strength growing in me.
Courage will invite you to step into the arena of your aspirations.
It is your partner to embrace your dreams and face the uncertainties that come with it.
It is a reminder that you have the ability to navigate the unknown. That if you fall, you can stand up, dust yourself off, and keep walking.
I have never thought of myself as a brave and fearless person.
I am often risk-averse.
Yet, my aspiration is big.
It is painful to stay small when your aspiration is big.
So, I had to borrow strength from courage because I do not want to regret it in the future.
I also borrow strength from like-minded people who are also choosing courage in living a whole-hearted life.
Courage doesn’t only come in the form of a grand gesture like changing jobs.
Courage can be drawing boundaries with people who are toxic to you.
Courage can be allowing yourself to make new connections
Courage can be speaking up at work.
Courage can be reaching out to talk about a challenge that you have been facing.
Courage is your ingredient in charting your wholehearted life.
If you know that you have the capacity to fall and stand up again, that you have courage as your partner, what will you start doing?
What will you let go of?
Have a thought about it and let me know. I would love to hear from you.
With love,
TJ
PS: If you are interested to lean into courage and live a wholehearted life with minimal regrets, apply for a coaching discovery session with me. I am ready to speak to you.
PPS: If you resonate with this reflection and find it helpful, share this with your friends and family. It will be a gift to them. They can choose to subscribe to the upcoming newsletters here.
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