Last week I began a revolution of bravery. Well it’s not the Marie Antoinette type of revolution, but as long as two or more are willing, I think we can call it a revolution.
I’ve been sharing my own brave acts daily on our 100 Days of Brave Facebook page (feel free to join us if you’d like). They may not be what you think of as brave, but for me they are.
I’ve done lots of things in my life that people have told me were brave.
Sometimes they involved outdoor adventures like surfing, zip lining, tree climbing, or stand up yoga paddle boarding.
Sometimes they were travel related like volunteering in China, Ghana or India or traveling solo to the Baltic Sea.
And occasionally they included bigger life changes, like abandoning corporate America to become a full time entrepreneur, signing the lease on a 2000 sq ft commercial space, or buying my own home when I was single (AND an entrepreneur). Ok, some of those decisions WERE a little scary.
While those experiences did exercise my courage muscles, they were more exhilarating than uncomfortable. For me, what’s scary is asking for what I need, or taking it to an even higher level, asking for what I WANT. Now THAT’S scary. I am a peacemaker. I do my best not to ruffle any feathers, fit in and often even choose the path of least resistance. I’m fiercely independent and do not ask for, or accept, help very easily.
I’d sooner jump back on a surf board or try my hand at para sailing (maybe before the end of the year), than reach out and cold call a local business owner who I’d like to work with. I’d rather grab a flight to Germany and explore by myself than read something I’ve written aloud to my writing class (now THAT was scary).
We all have our own brands of bravery.
This photo (# by Armosa Studios)is from the the recent World Domination Summit where Dee Williams (LOVED her!) challenged us to be Superheroes in our own lives. We all have it within ourselves to rise to bravery, she explained, in whatever way we define that in our own lives. Sometimes, she indicated, we need a push to get started, and that if we knew what to do, we would do it. Release fear and don’t allow the lack of courage to keep you from following your heart. Put on your superhero cape, and choose to be bravery.
How will you follow YOUR heart today? How will YOU be BRAVE? And that’s the thing about bravery, only you will know.