“You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do.” – Jerry Garcia
Growing and having fulfilling work requires courage. Do you have courage?
Life can be messy. When it is messy do you have the courage to call it like it is? There are a few people in the world who dislike me (yes, it is true!) because on any given day I have the courage to call it like it is and to ask the questions that need to be asked.
It is neither mean spirited nor intended to stir painful emotions, yet I know sometimes that is the outcome. When emotions are stirred up you might feel fearful or vulnerable.
In my 20’s and 30’s I was unwilling to own my emotions. My first reaction was to be defensive. Can you relate? I wanted to blame someone else for my emotions. I often said, “You make me feel <mad, sad, angry> — you fill in the blank. The truth is your emotions belong to you alone and it takes courage to own your feelings . . . and your mistakes. As Brené Brown says “We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.”
Having the courage to be who you are and deal with all the messy parts of life often feels uncomfortable. Yet, uncovering your courage and allowing it to show will transform your life and your work.
A few years ago a client shared, “I love being unemployed, but I am afraid of what people think of me because I don’t have an 8-to-5 job. I shiver thinking about what they would think if they knew I did not want to return to my previous career.” She viewed her courage to speak her truth as a big weakness.
In the moment she allowed her courage to show up, the moment she spoke her truth, she stepped forward. Her willingness to be courageous allowed her to explore a new way to do the work she loved.
Only 20% of people look forward to going to work on Monday morning. Are you one of them?
It is not easy to have the courage to step away from the crowd. Are you seeking joy, fulfillment and satisfaction from your work? Do you have the courage to uncover and share with the world what you do? What would it be like to be considered one of the only ones who do what you do?
Do you want help and support to uncover your courage and share your remarkable work with the world? If so, let talk.
Do you have a comment or thought about courage? Post it below.
I love this “Her willingness to be courageous allowed her to explore …” you are so right and any blog starting with a quote from Jerry Garcia is worth the read!
I love your little pearls of wisdom Cindy… and so interesting how related courage and shame are… In fact they are ‘inversely’ related. I believe in total honesty – and certainly used to struggle in my corporate skin…. Something I’ve learned to embrace and honor as an entrepreneur and business coach! Great advice!
Thanks Laura! As you know wisdom comes in many forms and from many places as long as one is open to it. And who would not be open to wisdom from Jerry Garcia – right!
Love the Jerry Garcia quote. =0) You’re right – courage is required for the journey! It’s something I remind myself of whenever I feel myself shriveling into fear.
Another fangirl gush for the Jerry Garcia quote! I use the same one in my speaking engagements. 🙂 You’re so right, Cindy – admitting something that seems unpopular or even foolish (like leaving a perfectly good job for something riskier, such as owning your own business) takes courage. The older I get though, the more courage I have…I worry less about what others think and more about what brings me joy.