Grow Into Your Courage
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
―e. e. cummings
Over 35 years ago I began writing a journal specifically to explore my issues related to fear, since it seemed to be an underlying theme in my life at that time. As I wrote in my journal, an image for my feelings became clear. The scene was a haunted house. I was creeping around every corner waiting for something to jump out and frighten me. I put on my “brave mask,” walking with authority and whistling a happy tune. But underneath I was terrified and wondered if my false bravado would fool anyone.
I was dedicated to getting to the root of my fear. As I continued to write in my journal, I dug deeper. I realized my deepest fear was that I might actually be a wimp at heart, and I couldn’t do anything about it.
Something happened in this moment of self-reflection. An even deeper part of me rose up and said, “NO! “Wimpdom” is NOT your destiny!” In that instant I made a commitment to walk as courageously as possibly toward freedom and authenticity, despite my fears.
In making that decision so many years ago, I didn’t know how much courage I would have to summon from the depths of my being. I didn’t realize how much inner awareness and examination of relationship dynamics lay ahead. I didn’t know how raw I would feel by exposing my bare face to the world. And I didn’t anticipate the lightness, joy and inner peace that would come from continually letting go of more and more layers of my external façade.
Upon reflection about choosing the path toward freedom and authenticity, I now see how my courage has grown step by external step and inch by internal inch. Each challenging situation I have courageously faced and mastered, helps me know how much courage I had inside of me all along. It just needed to be liberated.
Now rather than thinking of myself as a wimp who needs to prove to myself that I can be courageous; I know courage is innately within me. I just need to dig deep enough to access it.
This knowing is no small thing. Each time we chose to face and master a challenge, we grow a little more into our Courageous Self. And that is truly what the heroic journey is all about!
We are at a crisis point in our individual and collective history, with courage all-time low. This is especially true among our so-called leaders. We can’t wait for others to demonstrate how to be courageous. We need to answer our own internal call to rise up and let our Courageous Self take the lead. The world needs each of us to, as Maya Angelou says, “put starch in our backbone.” This is what will liberate us from internal and external tyranny and save the planet! Will you answer your internal call?
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