Living with more courage

Finish this sentence - If I had the guts I would...

What would you do? What issues have you been silently brewing with those you work or live with would you speak up about? What changes would you make in your career, your relationships... your life? What goals would you take on and what commitments would you break off? Ahhh... if only you had the guts.

Of course whether or not you create for yourself a life that is rich and rewarding is ultimately up to you. Yes, that's right.... up to you! Of course it's much more convenient to blame your woes and lack of opportunity on your spouse, your boss, your kids, genetics or the economy or (all time favorite)... your parents but the truth is that you are always in a position to choose your experience of life. Sure sometimes life throws challenges your way you'd rather do without but whist you can't always choose your experiences in life, you always get to decide your experience of life. The problem with most folks is they are so afraid of making a mistake, looking foolish or messing up that they choose a life of mediocrity rather than risk taking on challenges that would enrich their lives immeasurably.

So what about you - what would you do IF you weren't afraid of failing, looking foolish, having an awkward confrontation, feeling inadequate or of what people might say? Whether in your relationships, your career, your community or in you life in general, your life is waiting for you to reclaim the power that your doubts and fears have been wielding and begin living it more purposefully and more courageously.

Now as you read this you may be thinking that you are different to everyone else; that you really don't possess the courage you've witnessed in others who've performed some extraordinary feat of bravery, survived some dreadful tragedy or overcome a life threatening illness. But that isn't true. You just haven't been forced to draw on your courage for your survival. The fact is if you found yourself in similar circumstances you would realize that you too possessed more strength, more courage and more determination that you ever imagined. Given that the essence of the word courage, which comes from Latin cor meaning "heart" then so long as you have a heart that is beating then you have everything you will ever need to live a wholehearted courageous life that truly inspires you.

Ultimately courage is not the absence of fear, of self doubt or misgivings or uncertainty. Not at all! Courage is action in the face of them. It's for that very reason why courage is so precious because it requires you step beyond your comfort zone and take a risk - that you feel your fear and do it anyway! Of course if it were easy to live with courage everyone would be doing it. The reality is, living the courage is likely the biggest challenge you will ever face. It's also the most important, because when you tap into the courage that resides within you it opens up a whole new world of possibility.

No-one is born with an immunity to fear or an absence of self doubt. Everyone is born with the ability to connect with what inspires them most deeply and, in doing so, and tap into the reserves of spirit (from which the word inspire derives) from which courage comes.

As risky as it may feel to you to speak up about issues that concern you or try to accomplish something you've never sought to do before, the far greater risk is to take no risk at all. Choosing to stay in the safe, predictable, familiar confines of your comfort zone and live a life of (at best) immaculate mediocrity will take you down a path that will one day have you looking back on your life and wondering "What if?" Don't wait for the day to arrive when you are faced with some extraordinary challenge to find out just how courageous and capable you really are. That day may never come. Rather make the decision to embrace a renewed sense of adventure in the life you have right now and to begin fulfilling the only true mission you ever really have in your life - to do the best you can with what you have been given.

Every time an opportunity arises for you to express yourself more authentically, to speak your truth, to give up procrastination and excuses and pursue your dreams, to open your heart more fully to the people in your life and to the experience of life itself you are being more courageous. Indeed bravery comes by doing brave acts.

"Most people tip toe through life only to make it safely to death" - Eleanor Roosevelt.

Never again do you need to say "If I just had the guts" because you do! All the courage you need is available to you right now. It's just waiting on you to tap into your heart, to connect with whatever makes your spirit come alive, and to step boldly forward in living the life you aspire to live. Don't kid yourself into thinking that one day, when the moon and stars all line up and all your doubts have disappeared you will do what inspires you. That day will never come. Don't let your life pass you by as you tip toe through it only to make it safely to death. Move out onto center stage, ask for more from life, dream bigger dreams for yourself and trust that wherever your dreams may take you, you have the courage to travel.

Don't believe me? Your life is waiting on you to dare to try.

About Margie Warrel:
Margie Warrell is an internationally renowned coach, speaker and author who empowers people to pursue the goals that inspire them with greater confidence, clarity and courage. Originally from Australia, Margie works with individuals, teams and organizations globally to strengthen communication, enhance relationships, develop leadership and promote individual potential and wellbeing. A mother of four children, Margie specializes in working with other women who don't want to settle for any less than the best out of themselves and life. Margie has written two books:

• "101 Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2", co-authored with John Gray, Richard Carlson, Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor and other leading success experts.

• "FIND YOUR COURAGE! 12 Everyday Acts of Courage to Unleash Your Full Potential and Live the Life You Really Want".

For free resources, more information or to subscribe to her free monthly eNewsletter "Your Greatest Life!" visit www.margiewarrell.com or email info@margiewarrell.com or phone 214.686.4155.