Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Attributed to Ann Lamont, American novelist and fiction writer
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear not the absence of fear.
Mark Twain, writer, humorist, and essayist
It takes courage to change. It takes courage to recognize when change is necessary. It takes courage to recognize the action needed to implement a change. It takes courage to recognize it’s about change in the first place. Oh my! Impermanence rears its head.
In the middle of life struggles, conscious or not, we often don’t recognize the symptoms of change. It takes time to open our eyes whether it applies to the self, relationships, a workplace, an illness, a government, or the climate.
I am currently in the middle of a life cycle change. I don’t like how it feels because it’s unfamiliar. I know solutions will come. The unfolding sometimes feels like I’m blindly groping in the dark. Reality can bite hard.
Gratefully, my meditation practice helps keep me balanced and grounded. When stress occurs, the first thing that often happens is holding the breath. We must get oxygen to the brain. Sitting in stillness with our focus on the breath, in and out, is magic. My heart literally slows down.
Using RAIN can help as well. We can intentionally Recognize and Accept what is in the moment. Then we Inquire of ourselves, Investigate without judgment Not identifying with a desired outcome. It does take courage to Nurture ourselves when we feel blind-sided.
Remember Kermit singing It’s Not Easy Being Green! Of course it’s not easy being human. Under duress, remind yourself the only constant is change. With practice, patience, persistence, and loving-kindness, we learn to feel the fear and do it anyway. It takes courage to change and smile.
I think fearless is having fears but jumping anyway.
Taylor Swift, singer
P.S. I want to have a conversation soon about acceptance and attitude. Both are key to happiness from the inside out.
Today’s Prescription
Notice if/how changes may be happening in your life or in the world around you.
We are all experiencing a form of upheaval these days.
Practice meditation using the object of the breath.
Find a peace place to sit for at least five, fifteen, or twenty minutes.
Please share the results with me.