A Healthy Dose of Sacred Courage

Sacred courage is something we get to experience in our lifetime. Who would have thought that being courageous involves us becoming compassionate, truthful and loving?

Courage,” Plato wrote, “is knowing what is not to be feared.” What does courage mean to you? What is your relationship with courage today, and what would you like it to be? How do you tap into your courage?

Shelly Francis in her fantastic book, The Courage Way shares, “Courage is what happens when you bring inspiration and integrity to your decisions to take action. Courage is the life force that animates you in moments of decision and action. Courage is what happens when your soul shows up. Courage is not only in you—it is you. In your moments of courage, you meet your true self.”

Many of us have come to learn that the more courageous we are, the more likely we are to experience challenges, setbacks and dark nights. Because courage requires us to take risks and step out of comfortable and safe ways of being. Who in their ‘right” mind would walk away from a steady income, benefits and routines? Who would sell their home and hit the road not knowing where they will be next month?

And those who judge those who walk aways from these safe ways of living, not as courageous, but as stupid. Because for them, it’s insane to try something without knowing whether or not you will succeed. The fear they live with is greater than the ability to trust their heart and explore the unknown.

But courage means that we have more ability to be curious and trust the feeling deep inside of us that knows that the fear may not be real and doing what society labels as stupid isn’t always so. Does it not take courage to try something new or different, keep at it and then try again when it doesn’t work out?

Owning Our Courage

So much can shift when we move away from common definitions of success and failure. To me, being safe is often risky, as it means that I have not explored my deepest dreams. Being courageous means stepping outside of my comfort zone and letting go of the fear of failure that I have been conditioned by.

I keep firing myself from situations and stories that no longer serve me, that are not aligned with my deeper purpose. I am learning what it means to be true to myself, and it’s definitely not an easy road. But I have decided to choose myself by listening to my intuition, and you can choose yourself, too. This is our time!

Jiddu Krishnamurti reminds us that “You can have the courage to climb the mountain, swim the lakes, go on a raft to the other side of the Atlantic or Pacific. That any fool can do, but the courage to be on your own, to stand on your two solid feet, is something which cannot be given by somebody.”

We are born to venture into unchartered territories in search of possibilities. It’s a voyage of purpose and courage.