Have You The Courage To Change?

“How cool, how quiet is true courage?” - Fanny Burney

When we are young, we are taught that courage is the knight riding in on his noble steed, sword brandished, ready to slay anyone that gets in his way to fight for the one he loves. Perhaps she’s being kept tucked away by an evil villain, perhaps a dragon is guarding her in a gilded tower, but one thing is for sure, HE is making a grand gesture. He’s displaying “great courage”. But real valiance is not always so overt.

The man who loses his job but still comes home, hugs his wife, hugs his children, reads them a story and makes everyone feel secure displays true courage.

The pre-teen who continues to go to school and still pursues their future and dreams in spite of being bullied every single day displays true courage.

The mother who loses her husband but still cares for her children and instills a sense of peace and balance in them in spite of loss displays true courage.

The son who balances his own life while taking care of his ailing mother so that she doesn’t feel alone while she transitions into her last stage of life displays true courage.

The single mother who balances multiple jobs and an aching back to keep her children fed and loved displays true courage.

The person who has to battle their own mind every single day trying to survive with mental illness displays true courage.

The man who would love to go to the bar and drown his feelings so as to avoid them, but chooses to go home to his family or to lean into his sadness instead of numbing it displays true courage.

The person who says no to the comfort of the 20 piece chicken nuggets, milkshake and large fries and yes to true nourishment after making the decision to live a healthier fuller life displays true courage.

True courage isn’t always some magnificent display. Sometimes it’s the silent wins.

The idea that courage is only diffusing bombs, slaying enemies or otherwise attention getting displays is a risky precept. It can make us feel like we are weak or not doing enough if we aren’t getting attention for our “wins”. This compiled with the digital age when it is as easy as the push of a button to seek a false sense of validation through online attention makes it so that mental and emotional instability are rampant. In a day and age where we are so connected, we are almost completely disconnected from ourselves.

Most of the time true bravery is simply not listening to what fear or convention dictates you to do. This process isn’t always glamorous. It’s often mundane so it goes unseen, but powerful and important nonetheless.

Today I invite you all to take a count of your quiet wins. Take inventory. Don’t quantify them, qualify them with love and understanding. When was the last time you overcame something that others might have considered insignificant? What quietly profound ripple effect did this have on your life? How did it make you choose to live a little differently? How can you use this to fuel you to continue to be brave in other ways?

To piggy-back off of this concept, have you the courage to change? What quiet wins can you claim for yourself today? What little decisions that you make daily could lead to a more completely nurtured version of yourself?

Can you say no to that cigarette that you’ve been longing to say no to? Can you choose that smoothie over that comfort food just once this week? Can you choose to give yourself the same care you give to others? Can you take back your power and realize those who’ve wronged you just need their own healing?

Have you the courage to change?

I invite you to claim your bravery and reclaim yourself.

Blessed be.

(Copyright by Centered Spirit Birth / Laura Wadek)

#Courage #Empowerment #LiveYourBestLife #CountTheQuietWins #CenterYourSpirit