Everyday Courage

“Everyday Courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drums beat for you and no crowds shout your name.”

I remember it as if it was yesterday, but it's been over nine years since that awakening moment. The final obstacle on the course stopped me dead in my tracks. Truth is, I’m not a fan of heights, and the final challenge was to rappel down a seven-story tower. A young Marine asked, “What’s stopping you?” My response was simple and to the point, “I have a fear of heights.” He laughed, and I will always remember his words, “You need to wrap your arms around fear. You will never have this opportunity again, and if you don’t embrace this challenge, it will haunt you for the rest of your life." I climbed the tower and rappelled down. That young Marine made me go back up and repeat the process two more times. Later that evening he said, “Embracing your fear and pushing through took a lot of courage; never forget that feeling.” I haven’t !  

That day I learned that courage is not being fearless. In fact, it is the opposite; courage is embracing your fear. It is in those moments when your knees are shaking, your voice is unsteady, and your stomach is in knots that you are being courageous—provided, of course, that you are moving through your fear. The other thing I learned is that courage is not something we store for use on special or random occasions; it is a trait we need to present daily.

Why is everyday courage so important? Courage gives us the ability to put aside our fear of failure and take the first steps. Courage helps us overcome the fear of rejection and facilitates our engagement with others. Courage allows us to attempt things that we haven't tried before, despite a fear of looking foolish. Perhaps the importance of courage is best expressed by the late poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou who said, “I am convinced that courage is the most important of all the virtues. Because without courage, you cannot practice any other virtue consistently. You can be kind for a while; you can be generous for a while; you can be just for a while, or merciful for a while, even loving for a while. But it is only with courage that you can be persistently and insistently kind and generous and fair.”   

The reality is we each have the opportunity to exhibit courage daily through the decisions we make. More often than not, these decisions are small, local and deeply personal. However, there are times that our decisions can be of consequence and have a significant impact on others. Often it comes down to deciding between the safe choice or the courageous one.

Sonia McDonald is an organizational consultant, executive coach and author of the recently published, First Comes Courage. In a recent post she identifies 15 behaviors that reflect everyday courage.  

1. Saying sorry - It takes courage to admit when you are wrong.
2. Be yourself - Take off your mask. Allow yourself to become vulnerable.
3. Take responsibility and accountability - You are where you are in life because of the choices you make. If you don't like what you see, change it. 
4. Keep your commitments - When you keep your promises, you build self-respect. Others respect you as well. 
5. Have a voice - “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud!” - Coco Chanel
6. Let go and forgive - Stop wallowing over what could have been. Forgive yourself. Forgive everyone. Move on!
7. Grow and learn - Learn something new. Step into the unknown. Change the way you do things. 
8. Listen and be present - Listen to people who disagree with you. 
9. Help others - Help someone who doesn't help you. Help others when you don't have the time. Learn to be of service. That's why we're here.
10. Show the love - Act like a loving person. You can love difficult people as well. 
11. Practice gratitude - Focus on what you are grateful for.
12. Choose Positive - Focus on what's good. Look at the bright side. Expect the best.
13. Seek to be better - Choose to grow forward. Be compassionate. Make a new plan. Refuse to give up. Seek to become a better version of yourself.
14. Embrace the small things. - Take time to love the small stuff. 
15. Love yourself - Accept your imperfections. Be your own best friend. Show yourself compassion, understanding and respect. This is the most courageous act of all. 

Consider the list and highlight those traits you already practice. Likewise make note of those areas in which your everyday courage can grow. We can all become better versions of ourselves. Sometimes all it takes is one courageous step. 

Embrace Everyday Courage

Embrace the Challenge