What’s important to you? Are you speaking your truth, no matter what the situation? Or no matter who is listening? Sometimes, we censor our words and actions based on what we think others will say or do. We make a judgement and decide whether it is safe to reveal our truth. Are you being authentic? Are you living a life that reflects your deepest desires? Sometimes we have to be very brave to listen to our own voice and take action. It takes a certain boldness to follow our dreams with no regard to outside opinions or circumstances.
In one of my favorite story books, “Winnie The Pooh”, the author A.A. Milne says, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” I agree. Life is not easy. We need to be brave to make it through! The word ‘brave’ is defined as “ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage or a fighting spirit.” It also means to “endure or face unpleasant conditions or behavior without showing fear; to withstand; to suffer.” A brave person is spirited, heroic, daring, bold and untamed. Sometimes life gives us no choice but to be brave.
Since I know you are braver than you believe, are you brave enough to do what is important to you? If not, why not? Have you made up some story about why you can’t do it? Maybe somebody else has told you why. When Elvis Presley auditioned for a band, he was told: “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.” And when Walt Disney was a young man, he was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Obviously, neither one listened to other people’s opinions. They were brave enough to expose themselves to criticism. And strong enough to ignore it.
Are you wearing a mask which disguises your true self from the world? Are you afraid to take it off for fear that others will judge you, or your dreams and aspirations? Often we wear a mask when we engage in relationships because we are afraid to show our self to others. Love is hard to find when you’re hiding. If you don’t expose your true, authentic self to the world, how will anyone see the wonderful uniqueness that is you? When you are afraid to be all you can be, we all lose out. A mask is uncomfortable. It restricts your vision. Take off the mask.
Sometimes we are afraid to begin because we have already decided we will fail. We believe we are just not enough…not smart enough, not strong enough, not good enough. Courage comes when we tell ourselves we can do it. And that we will do it! Because what you tell yourself has a great impact on your world. What you tell yourself determines what you can and cannot do. You will never take action on anything if you don’t tell yourself to do it. Become the hero of your own life. Be daring! Be bold! Be brave!