Contrary to popular belief, courage is a result of small victories that cumulatively give us a sense of fearlessness and power. Being brave is not about taking one step that defines your life and future. In fact, it is more about repeatedly accepting life’s challenges and showing up wholeheartedly. As a result, every act of courage matters and defines a life true to your North Star. In this week’s blog, I share anecdotes of the courageous acts around me. They might inspire you to introspect your own journey and admire the bravery you have witnessed in others day in and day out.
Courage is grieving
A dear friend recently lost her grandmother. They shared a close bond with each other. For my friend, it was like losing her best friend and biggest cheerleader. Although, this friend of mine knew the end was near, knowing and experiencing are different, especially when it comes to the loss of a loved one.
In the last week, my friend has felt lost and broken, even forgetting to take care of her own needs and health. She is allowing herself to grieve in a way that makes sense to her. For the time being, that means crying and mourning; however, it also means being the best mother she can be given the circumstances and the pillar of strength for her family.
It takes courage to witness death in any form, and it takes even more valor to make sense of one’s life after such profound loss. My friend will heal as time passes, but the void will always remain. Nevertheless, she will learn to nurture and live with that vacuum with every passing day, because that is what we do as human beings.
If you have experienced grief of any kind, then please know that you’ve shown one of the highest forms of courage. The death of a relationship, living being, or the end of a troubled phase in your life might have left you with pain, memories, and uncertainty. Regardless, your journey of facing these emotions and making sense of them is an act of unprecedented bravery.
Courage is perseverance
I have a friend in town who is in the food business. Recently, he stepped out of his comfort zone and accepted a catering job for a well-known organization in town. This was uncharted territory for him, and he learnt many lessons along the way. These lessons included figuring out the logistics and physically pushing his limits to ensure a successful 12-hour event.
Even though he was as cool as a cucumber on the outside, he experienced moments of stress, aggravation, and exhaustion on the inside. As a newbie in the world of catering, the lessons never stopped, but, most importantly, he never stopped learning. None of the ups and downs of that day deterred him from pushing forth and expanding his horizons. After all, this was only round one of many for his catering business 😊
When we dream, we forget all the blood, sweat, and tears that will go into making those dreams a reality. We envision the final product but not the stumbles that eventually get us to our destination.
Courage is getting up after every fall armed with more knowledge, faith, and resilience. Remember, you’ve done hard things before, so you’re more than capable of doing them now.
Courage is seeking
It’s not always possible to do all the heavy lifting. Sometimes, when the going gets tough, we must allow ourselves to seek reassurances and motivation from our communities of family, friends, and well-wishers. That is exactly what happened with a wonderful lady I’ve gotten to know in the last 6 months.
This individual has undergone a metamorphosis from being a meek and shy woman full of self-doubt to one who is gradually fulfilling her dreams. This person is an artist who was confused and overwhelmed with the thought of opening her own studio: a place to call her own where she could work on her pieces uninterruptedly and eventually showcase as well as sell them.
At home, her workspace was makeshift, and she constantly had to cater to everyone else’s needs except her own. For months, she shared her concerns and her goal of having her own studio, until one fine day, it all fell into place. She shared her desire again at the right place, right time and amongst the right people.
On the spot, she had two other ladies looking for a similar space. The stars aligned and within a week, she had a workplace of her own that she now shares with two supportive women who have become her champions of change. These ladies guide and encourage her as a woman, as a professional, and as a mother. The look of accomplishment, purpose, and pride on the artist’s face is priceless.
Courage is being vulnerable to share your dreams even when the path of achieving them is unclear. When you live, breathe, and share your goals enough, the universe does the heavy lifting of connecting you with the right tribe.
Courage is you
As I brainstormed this week’s blog and roughly outlined the anecdotes, I forgot how I’ve shown up courageously in my own life. After almost a year, I got behind the wheel in a foreign country on my own. Driving in Surat is nothing short of an obstacle course with vehicles, pedestrians, and animals presenting themselves out of every corner. I’ve never driven in a city that feels so lawless when it comes to its traffic rules. Due to this disordered driving, it’s taken me all these months to finally muster the courage to drive on my own.
It would be unfair to say I did all on my own. I was lucky enough to have an accountability partner who had me practice and showed unwavering faith in my driving abilities. Nevertheless, it was up to me to take the ultimate step into the ring and face my fears.
Never shortchange yourself and your acts of bravery. You are your biggest inspiration if you take the time to see it from the depths of your heart.
Courage has many faces. Courage shows up every day and everywhere. Don’t ever dismiss it as too small or too little. Sometimes, it’s sending your child to school for the first time. At other times, it’s about interviewing for a role that you don’t land only to persevere for something better. On occasion, courage is getting out of bed when all of you feels broken. Courage is also saying good-bye to a relationship or starting a new one. Most importantly, courage is silently and relentlessly working towards your end game. Embrace your courage and give it the recognition it deserves.
As always, I am here to support you all the way, my brave soul. I hope you keep in touch with your stories, thoughts, and feedback. If you wish to learn more, please stop by www.imperfectbodies.com. Lastly, if you enjoyed this information, then please share it with others.
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All the best,
Chaitni