Courage

It takes courage to listen to your gut and act on it, even when your rational mind tells you otherwise.
 
It takes courage to voice your truth and the truth of who you are, even if you know you will be met with a lack of approval.
 
It takes courage to follow your dreams, even when you fear failing.
 
It takes courage to open your heart, especially when you’ve been hurt before.
 
It takes courage to say, “No, I will not allow this,” in relation to either your own personal boundaries, or something you see going on in the world. To put your foot down and take a stand is courageous. 
 
It takes courage to leave your comfort zone and venture into the unknown. That can be with a new job, relationship, place to live, or simply expressing a different opinion than what you had always been taught.
 
It takes courage to differ from your family of origin and to know that they may be disappointed.
 
It takes courage to proclaim to yourself that you refuse to live a life defined by anyone else’s rules or expectations, and that you are going to follow your own path one step at a time, creating happiness each and every moment. Finding what brings you fulfillment versus what your family/society/religion tells you.
 
It takes courage to find the answers within, versus acquiescing to, or parroting, everyone else's opinions and thoughts.

It takes courage to be truthful with how we feel, versus people pleasing. 
 
It takes courage to admit you were wrong, and do what you can to make it right. 
 
It takes courage to think outside the box and look at things from a new perspective, or to create something that has never been imagined before.
 
It takes courage to silence the loud ego mind, and to listen to/act from the still quiet voice within.
 
It takes courage to stop defending against your actions/reactions, and really look at your part in a situation/conflict.
 
It takes courage to forgive, when you want to punish. For ultimately, that is the gift that will set you free.

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Speaking of courage, I encourage you to seek out and read perspectives and information on racism and the subtle and insidious ways it shows itself in the collective consciousness. It’s not always overt, the subtle has done just as much damage.

It’s easy to say, "I’m not racist," and dismiss what I’m saying, yet I ask you to look at it from a place of humility versus defending against your position.

It takes courage to say, "Wow, where have I unconsciously contributed to, or even been unaware of, the situation? Where can I learn and uncover my issues to do better and be better?"

​ It starts with you.

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