by James Robbins, Dallas Therapist
Be brave. Have courage. Easy words to say, but not so easy to put in practice.
Courage means you keep showing up. You keep giving it your best effort, even when the outcome is uncertain, even when the odds seem stacked against you. When confronting an obstacle, you admit you have limited control over the outcome, but you do your part anyway. Maybe your marriage or your job will work out, and maybe they won’t. You acknowledge the anxiety that tends to accompany uncertainty. You face it head-on, you accept it for what it is, but then you move on. When fear squirms in your belly, you notice it, then you redirect your focus to the immediate task at hand.
You are going to make mistakes. Sometimes you will fail. Bravery requires that you extend compassion to yourself, and to others. We’re all human. You don’t waste energy judging anyone, yourself included. You keep your heart open. You keep steering your focus back to the next thing that needs doing. And the next thing . . . And the next thing . . .
Persistence. Acceptance. Compassion. Focus. These are the essential ingredients for living courageously.
