Courage to Pursue

By Lisa Blackmon

Courage to Pursue is a guide in which readers will experience how they can conquer the spirit of fear to turn their dreams into a reality. Each part of this book encourages readers to move out of their comfort zone to find the courage they need to succeed. Blackmon takes the readers through a series of po

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prosperity Publications, LLC
• Release date: Mar 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638484196

Book preview

Chapter 1

Courage

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

––e. e. cummings

It’s In There

Why do some people strut around as though they own everything, while others cower at the very idea of stepping forward in any kind of leadership role? Is it courage that makes the difference? If so, what is courage, and why do human beings need it? After all, we are earth’s dominant beings. We were created to rule, to be leaders, but we still need courage.

Courage is the mental strength that causes us to move forward in times of pressure, fear, or when opportunities present themselves. But when I think of courage, a whimsical visual comes to mind of the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz. On the outside, the lion is a strapping beast to be revered and respected by all those he encounters. On the inside, however, he struggles with the fear of others seeing him for who he believes himself to be––a coward.

And so, it is with us. Like the cowardly lion, outwardly, some of us roar and stomp about, putting on a show, hoping no one will challenge us and reveal our hidden fears. Inwardly, though, we doubt we can get through life’s maze with all of its crooks, turns, dark shadows, and sharp corners. We find ourselves paralyzed and unable to move forward because our courage has somehow vanished like a vapor. But is it gone, or is it just hidden? Because I believe in humanity’s ability to adapt and overcome, I lean toward the latter. Perhaps the challenges we’ve faced, along with ideas that have been planted in our subconscious, have caused us to bury our courage deep within– –but it is there. One only has to dust off the cobwebs and bring it to the surface.

Of course, that is easier said than done. That is why practical methods of activation are in order if we are to bring courage to the surface and use it to propel us forward. First, however, let me share with you one of my own stories about courage.

Just Push The Button

I’d just left the gym, where I’d had an encounter with a young entrepreneur. I was so excited about his product that I decided I had to immediately tell others about it so they could support him, too. Since I’d been doing my weekly videos and posting on Facebook, this was a perfect way to go live and tell the world about his product.

I thought my promotion would be a cakewalk, but I agonized over how to get it done. Then I got scared. Would I stumble over my words? It’s live, so I can’t edit out my mistakes. What if no one watches my video? What if the video draws nothing but negative comments?

As I mulled over all the things that might go wrong, I had to talk myself into pushing the live button, holding up the product, and talking about it. I survived, of course, and on reflection I realized that pulling myself out of my comfort zone to do something new wasn’t as bad as I had imagined it would be. My story might not be yours, but everyone experiences fear and needs courage to overcome.

It’s A Process

Going from having no courage to being brave enough to tackle our greatest fears usually doesn’t happen overnight. In many cases, our courage has disintegrated over the years and will take time and effort to rebuild.

But to gain courage, we must start somewhere, and the best way to gain, or regain, the confidence and courage we need is to develop and practice effective techniques that will gently nudge us forward.

I’m not suggesting quick-fix solutions. Instead, I’m going to give you suggestions that will help you take baby steps at first so you can eventually discover ways to develop more courage as you go along. Here are several techniques I’ve found helpful.

Find Your Center

Humans have a natural reflex toward self-preservation. The physical effects of fear cause the I must protect myself mindset to move to the forefront of our thinking, which causes the response, whether physical or verbal, to reflect that fear. A form of meditation or a calming of the mind can help to control fear and can, in turn, settle the body. Once you’ve acknowledged your fear, you can shift the focus from the event or the person that ignites the sense of fear to a feeling of tranquility that can be manifested in clarity of thought and a relaxed body. This process creates clarity of thinking, allowing reason and logic to become the voices that override your bodily responses. Courage is revealed, and a sense of empowerment fills the mind.

In his book The Way of Aikido/Life Lessons From an American Sensei, George Leonard points out a key technique that helps with changing one’s focus from fear to courage. Leonard advocates learning about your center, or hara, which is translated as the belly in Japanese. Finding your center can bring balance and stability in the midst of chaotic circumstances.

Finding your center can be the most challenging part of moving toward courage, and it requires some degree of discipline. In order for this technique to become a readily available tool in moving toward courage, you have to regularly practice it.

Find A Mentor

When I was growing up, children in my neighborhood would gather on hot summer days in the front yard of my grandparent’s house. We caught lightning bugs and played games and when we were thirsty, we drank the lukewarm water that spurted from the green hose pipe on the side of the house.

Someone would suddenly yell, Let’s play Punchanella! In our excitement, we would gather in a circle, usually around the person who requested the game, and walk around that person, singing, Look who’s here, Punchanella, Punchanella.

Then, we would ask, What can you do, Punchanella, Punchanella?

The person in the circle would usually begin with something simple, such as handclapping, which called for a response from the circle of kids, singing, We can do it, too, Punchanella, Punchanella, followed by an imitation of the act.

From that point, the challenges became more and more daring. The person playing Punchanella might turn a cartwheel, perform a handstand, or break out in an intricate dance move. Of course, those of us who were afraid to go airborne or who had zero dance skills decided to at least try the crazy stunts because if Punchanella could do it, everyone else should have been able to do it, too. Even as children, we chose role models and aspired to do what they were doing.

Carefully choose someone who will be a positive guiding influence in your life, but who will also be honest with you when you need a nudge in the right direction. This person might be a trusted professional, but don’t discount family members and friends who have been successful.

My personal role models are Lisa Nichols and Les Brown. I have listened to their stories of overcoming fear, and have been inspired by what they were able to accomplish in spite of what they’ve endured.

Keep in mind, that as influential and successful as mentors may be, they are still people just like you. They are not superheroes and aren’t born with extraordinary amounts of courage. They are simply people who did what needed to be done in spite of fear and other setbacks. But you can learn from their successes and failures, and soar past your fears instead of standing on the edge and refusing to