Courage

I am writing this letter to remind you of just how beautiful and lovely you are. Sometimes, you forget.

It takes courage to be you. Courage isn’t something you are born with. It is not gifted to the few brave ones. Courage is not something mysterious or unattainable.

Your courage lies within you, but you have to find it. You have to want to find it. You have to do what you are afraid to do.

I want you to practice being brave by acting on what your heart tells you to do. I want you to challenge yourself with new experiences, even when you are afraid. Bravery doesn’t mean that you are never afraid. It means you ARE afraid. But you acknowledge your fear and you move forward anyway.

You move forward in spite of criticisms, disapproval and other’s reactions to you.

You move forward in spite of mistakes and failures.

You move forward in spite of everything that stands between you and your dreams.

You can then draw upon bravery’s strength and power, in times of crises, fears and in making difficult decisions.

You will never be brave if you don’t get hurt. You will never learn if you don’t make mistakes. You will be successful if you don’t encounter failure.

Remember. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the strength to confront that fear. Be brave and keep going.

In my career as a therapist, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most courageous and inspirational people who have faced unbelievable circumstances. Nearly every one of them initially believed they were not strong enough to cope. But instead, they chose bravery by acknowledging their fears and by accepting circumstances.

Unpack your courage everyday. Make your voice heard. You matter. Accepting help is brave.