From the Heart: It Takes Courage

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~E.E. Cummings

It is no secret that some of the most important, most challenging, most life-changing, most meaningful and most growth-inspiring experiences in life are often ones that require the biggest dose of bravery that one can muster.

By their very nature, these moments require something extra, a decision to rise to the occasion and to step out of a comfort zone and into the unknown.

They require vulnerability and a relinquishment of at least some aspect of our self, and a willingness to hand over the reigns to something bigger and unseen.

And this can make us tremble internally, make our bellies twist into knots, all the while sending our imagination into the wild and into the darkness where we see potential danger and calamity lurking behind every turn.

And so these moments in our lives take real internal courage, and a desire to go forward even when a longed for outcome is far from guaranteed.

You see, at every turn in life at least some measure of courage is absolutely necessary, as every moment, every experience, has the potential to be an important, meaningful, and change-inspiring one.

It takes courage for one to speak their heart to a loved one when there has been a subtle rift, or a slow leak that has begun deflating a relationship, and it is in need of care and repair.

It takes courage for one to leave familiar work behind to venture into something new that requires a learning curve, and time coupled with patience to build.

It takes courage for one to ask for what one needs—emotionally, spiritually, and physically—when misunderstanding and defense is always a possible result.

It takes courage for one to publicly share their heart and their feelings, for fear of ridicule and unkindness in response.

It takes courage for one to speak the truth of who they are in the present moment of their life, when who they are looks so very different from whom they've been for so very long.

It takes courage to pick up and start again in some way, be it a move, or a new relationship, or a new job, when the “new” feels so very foreign.

It takes courage to welcome a new child into one's life, or to release into the wild a child who has been raised and is ready to fly the nest to begin their own life, as both require embracing a new dynamic.

It takes courage to trust again after a bond of trust has been broken, and to be open to love once again.

It takes courage for one to ask for what they truly need and want, in the face of potential rejection.

You see, at every turn in life at least some measure of courage is absolutely necessary, as every moment, every experience, has the potential to be an important, meaningful, and change-inspiring one.

That is the beauty of life.

And so, life requires real courage.

If you are to be authentic, it will take courage.

If you are ready for potentially amazing things to happen in your life, it will take courage.

If you are in need of change in your life, it will take courage.

If you are ready to up your game, it will take courage.

If you are longing to realize your potential and learn your true purpose, it will take courage.

The good news is, each of us have been endowed with a generous measure of courage, but it does require us to activate it by taking that step out of our comfort zone, even if trembling all the while.

Taste what's good and pass it on.

Ingrid