Choiceortunity #38

This week’s CHOICEORTUNITY:

Courage

The word courage has been floating around in my head for the last two days. Seeing that today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day it seems especially fitting to talk about. Courage is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

Synonyms: courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship. Courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty. Mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience . Spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one’s own or keep up one’s morale when opposed or threatened . Resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one’s ends.  Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat .

As I reflect I think about the people who throughout history have displayed courage in the world around us. Martin Luther King, the women of the suffrage who fought for women’s right to vote, our Founding Fathers, Rosa Parks, Mother Theresa, Neil Armstrong, Nelson Mandela, every soldier who has defended our country, Harriet Tubman, Gandhi and so many, many more.

Too there are those who are silently courageous; who you won’t see on the national news or ever have a holiday dedicated to them. The everyday person who musters up the courage to take on a new challenge, who decides that it is never too late to go back to school, fights adversity or stands up for what they believe in their community despite any opposition they might face. We all have this courage in us. We all have a “fighter” inside of us, that when called upon will whisper “you can do it” in our ear when we doubt our ability to move forward. My Choiceortunity for you today is to find and embrace your courage.

Twelve things to love about courage.*

1. I love that my courage allows me to spread my wings and be all I can be. I am driven by an internal courage-fueled energy field that magnifies my spirit’s fulfillment. My courage is my antitoxin that I apply to setbacks, hurts or duties. How did I start this process? I gave myself permission to express my individuality! Did someone clip your wings?

2. I love that my courage supports me to exit bad situations quickly. Knowing my personal courage mindset allows me to embrace the courage opportunities I face on my journey. I am no stranger to my courage. I also know that I may feel unjustly punished when I stand in my courage, but courage provides the inner strength to rise above the “victim” mindset. Are you a stranger to your courage? My actions become consistently balanced with my courage consciousness. I love my courage!

3. I love that my courage sustains me to design a life diminished of regrets. My courage centeredness defines my intentions. Each step (large or small) is an achievement. When my time comes to leave this life, I want to be able to say and feel in my heart, “I have no regrets. I did it my way.” Do you remain deeply consistent with your intentions? If so, reach for the rainbow!

4. I love that my courage requires me to hold myself one hundred percent accountable for my life’s experiences. I knowingly design those happenings each moment. Courage consciousness supports me as I strive to live in the vibration of my true Self. What life mosaic are you designing? With courage, humility and gratitude merge to dissipate all illusions of self-importance.

5. I love that my courage competencies expand as I step up the ladder called life. Stepping up reinforces my reservoir of courage, which sustains me until I am ready to take the next exciting step. That next step may be asking for a tough project or changing my hair color. Is your range of courage expanding? I focus on the ancient Chinese proverb: “He who hesitates before each step spends his life on one leg.” Living in courage is economical—it cuts out a myriad of missteps.

6. I love that my courage self-differentiates me, defining my “brand value.” The driver behind courage is the meaningfulness of my life. These qualities are portrayed through my convictions. My courage allows me to reflect. Choosing some form of reflection, I can learn to be more present to the truth of my personal branding distinction. What is your brand value? Herein lies the courage paradox: stay present, and you will do what is best for you!

7. I love that my courage guides me to focus on best results. Combining intention with action, courage arms me for success. The power of my spirit illuminates the steps that correlate my success quotient with my courage quotient. Are you willing to sacrifice the external world to find your internal world? It takes courage to design your personal blueprint.

8. I love that my courage is a friend during times of uncertainty or difficult transitions. There is no need for me to run from myself. My courage permits me to be innately motivated. In courage, my life expresses my heart’s core, reflecting the root meaning of the word courage: “heart and spirit.” Does your life express your heart, your core, your courage? With courage, you can say an absolute “yes” to whatever happens in your life.

9. I love that my courage develops my success. I develop my success by declaring my intent. My self-esteem supports me during demanding times. I know that hard decisions come alive in the questions, not the answers. Questions inspire actions. I see events as opportunities rather than sources of anxiety. Wisdom often dawns in the midst of pain, providing words of encouragement that should be shared with others. Success is not elusive, and courage is not a barrier to a happy life. Both are venues for your light to shine. What is your definition of success?

10. I love that my courage self-propels me. I am able to reinvent myself as often as needed. I know that conformity is a courage killer. I focus on my accomplishments and maintain a tough measure of accountability. Self-discipline thwarts any mediocrity that might keep me stuck or in anguish. Are you powerfully passionate about who you are? Nothing is more valuable than deepening your sense of who you are. Self-reflection is the key to self-fulfillment.

11. I love that my courage allows me to stand in my dignity. I do not need to manipulate situations. I know storms will enter my life. They offer opportunities for an honest assessment of my vulnerabilities. How frequently do you witness a mea culpa? Courage supports me to delve beyond my ego’s old behavioral scripts to uncover emotional pain and rewrite those scripts. Only I can choose to stop my suffering created by my ego.

12. I love that my courage advances my voice. When I confront an uncomfortable truth, the essence of my authentic courage comes to light, and I claim this energy. In Latin, “virtue” means “energy.” Is courage your unsung hero? Are you willing to fall in love with your courage? Courage is the gift that lifts your spirit.

Courage is a gift you can give yourself.

Amy Chastek
Director of Career Services

To find out more about Herzing University please visit http://www.herzingonline.edu. You are welcome to contact me at achastek@onl.herzing.edu.

*http://knol.google.com/k/12-things-to-love-about-courage#