When you hear the word courageous, who comes to mind?
Martin Luther King, Jr? Mother Theresa? Men and women in the armed forces? George Washington?
All of those people came to mind for me. You know what else followed that thought? That I will never achieve that level of awesome. I'm a 5'1 woman who sometimes feels like she is more courageous with her Netflix choices than she is in the real world. I thought how on EARTH am I supposed to have courage like Mother Theresa and George Washington?
Then I realized, having courage doesn't have to roar like a lion. It doesn't mean you have zero fears or doubts. Having fears and doubts is normal and completely natural. Courage comes when you acknowledge those fears and doubts but continue to stand. It's standing up even when your knees are trembling. It's speaking truth even when your voice shakes.
Courage is strength no matter how big or small. Courage is choosing to step back from my steady job to follow my dream of motivational speaking. Courage is standing next to a friend, even if they are not the most popular or well liked. Courage is embracing who you truly are and choosing to live your life in that light.
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it's the quiet voice at the end of the day that's says, I will try again tomorrow.
Be courageous, my dear friend. And at the end of the day, even if everything went wrong, lean into the courage of that soft, small voice at the end of the day... you will try again tomorrow.... and you will be outstanding.