One of the things I’m enjoying about exploring this theme of everyday bravery is realizing a connection that now seems so obvious.
Since last week, I’ve endeavored to do as I suggested you do, which was to pay more attention and notice the ways in which I practice bravery every day. Turns out, it’s not so easy!! 🙂
However, in the process of trying, here’s something that became crystal clear: The correlation between bravery and what you want to be known for.
When you think about it, whether your message impacts a few or many, it takes a lots of guts to say, in essence, “this is my body of work and what I want to be known for.” Especially because the hard choices you make and actions you take everyday to live out your message – personally and professionally – define you.
I’m still noodling on this intersection. But I believe this dynamic relationship is due to a fundamental truth about your message, which is that it stems from something deep within you. And yes, I’m operating under the presumption that everyone wants to be known for something – even if it isn’t reflected in how you earn a living. There is something that makes you feel alive and represents your way of making life a little better for someone else.
Therefore, if it stems from something deep within you that likely means it is shaped by an aspect of your life – perhaps something from your past; something you envision for the future; or, a combination. So you know what that means, right?
While you are working on (or working to discover) your message and how it can help you make a difference, it is working on you!
How?
- It’s kicking up all the “feels” and fears.
- It’s challenging you to address your own sense of worthiness and whether you really are making (or can make) a difference.
- It’s giving you a chance (said ever so cheekily) to wrestle with and overcome concerns about being rejected or feeling isolated or unliked.
- It requires that when the imposter syndrome kicks in, you have a way to silence it.
- It demands that you seek a deep connection with others (because you can’t fulfill your message alone).
- It asks you to be vulnerable – at times in front of the people you’d rather not expose yourself to in this way.
So in case you need a reminder: Each time you do what each of the above asks of you, that is brave! Proving, yet again, that while you do brave things each and every day, choosing to be intentional about it is not for the faint of heart.
Truth is, your message leaves little room for you to be timid.
On the contrary, your message demands that you stand up and stand out.
You know this, of course. But is this awareness more than a fleeting thought? Do you fully comprehend the power of the intersection between your bravery, your message and your success?
Capturing brave moments
As you know from last week, I am on a mission for you (and me) to move beyond just looking back and “tracing” your brave choices and actions to creating more opportunities to be brave. However, to do the latter, you have to understand how the former came to be.
One of the reasons I had a hard time noticing my moments of bravery last week was my approach. I was relying on memory — trying to recount them a day or days after the fact.
This week, I’m going to experiment with adding a “bravery audit” to my nightly ritual; care to join me?
If so, set a timer for five minutes for the next three to five days so you can document your moments of bravery.
I love the saying, “write it down, make it plain.” Because it not only helps you create a diary of what has happened, it also helps you to identify patterns so you can create an environment for more opportunities of bravery in the future, too. Here a few things to make note of; did you:
Try something new
Did you try something new by pushing yourself to or beyond the edge, physically, intellectually and/or emotionally? Would you say this was outside your comfort zone? Make note of all the choices you made and actions you took that you’d describe as such.
Acknowledge mistakes or missteps
Make a list of what you wished you would have done differently – maybe it is something you said or did? As odd as this sounds, doing this is a way of giving yourself the space and permission to be imperfect.
Trust your intuition
Can you recall when something simply “felt” right or wrong? Did you respect or dismiss that gut feeling? (It’s really important to do this from a perspective of observing, not judging!)
Examine your self-talk
We often associate the act of being brave with an action. Thoughts, feelings and words rarely get included. But they should. And not just what you say to others. What you say to yourself is key.
Celebrate
What choice or action did you celebrate? Here’s where respecting the process over just focusing on the outcome comes in handy.
Intentional bravery is…
To me, this is what you need to pay attention to: Your message and your everyday bravery are synonymous with discovering the best version of yourself vis-a-vis an increased sense of self-awareness and self-assuredness. Taking time to conduct a bravery audit is a step in that direction.
Plus, it is a cool way to connect the less noticeable dots that highlight the intersection between your bravery, your message and your success.
There’s a reason I nestled “your message” in the middle. It unlocks both your bravery and your success. It is both the anchor and tool for your bravery and success. And let’s not forget: it is also the tool for how you stand up and stand out to tell a story (or spread a message) that only you can tell.
Your story, voice and message matter – a lot! So if you needed confirmation that the world needs you to practice everyday bravery, consider this it.
p.s. Exploring the intersection of bravery and success is the theme for June’s Comfort Circle™ dinner. We have a few seats available, and I hope you’ll join us; it’s Monday, June 18 at 6:30pm in midtown Manhattan. You can learn more and RSVP here.
