Courage and Change

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

— Anaïs Nin, Author

Putting yourself at the center takes courage. Often the biggest obstacle to doing this are the negative voices inside our own heads. They tell us it is selfish, or the wrong time, or just plain frivolous to put ourselves at the forefront of our own attention. And every time we listen to them we shrink a bit.

A beautiful journey is an inner exploration to discover what you might do or where you might go (literally or metaphorically) to create a life that brings you joy, meaning, and fulfillment. A life that allows you to weather (and grow from) adversity. You define what it is for you, but at the core of this there is a sense of “Yes, this is the life I am choosing.” Is it scary to think of embarking on a journey to create that? Is it exhilarating? Is it both?!

Your beautiful journey may not, necessarily, mean a monumental transition like a big move or career change, but it can if that’s what you choose. It could be a much smaller and still profound change. Like shifting your mindset about what is possible in your life. It may be blowing on a little spark of an idea that has been struggling to glow amidst the busyness of life (and maybe self-doubt). It may be starting something new or letting go of something that is no longer beneficial to you.

If you have been caught in a cycle of dissatisfaction followed by, “I’m changing this today, damn it!” followed by decreasing momentum, you probably did not get clarity about what it was you really wanted and why. Lasting changes happen when we can take purposeful, meaningful actions. We know what those are after we gain clarity and create specific goals. Sometimes we can do this on our own, and sometimes an outside source of guidance and support helps.

What gets in the way of reaching out for that help? Often there are very real logistic issues…time and money usually vying for first place when it comes to this. But sometimes it is fear of the unknown. Even if dissatisfaction is not what we want, it is what we know. But, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Pause there for a moment and feel that. Shrinking. Expanding. Courage.

Life requires courage

Through whatever means you find helpful, may you have an expansive life.