Awaken The Brave
As I look at my 18 year old daughter readying herself to leave home and head off to university – pushing past her fears and ready to pursue her dreams, I have reflected on my own current levels of courage.
How often am I ready to step outside my comfort zone, doing bold and brave things? Already I am feeling uncomfortable with the question. How about you?
In a world where social media and societal expectations can cloud our self-worth, the courage to embrace a rich, full and impactful life becomes essential, especially for women – of all ages. Courage isn’t merely about facing external fears, it is about unlocking the strength within ourselves to pursue our passions, confront our fears and challenge the stereotypes that can often confine us – on an ongoing basis. It is about action, doing the bold things that may scare us, but which build our confidence through our experiences. While living courageously may mean different things to us at different times of our lives, I think it is important to see courage as something we need to practice – just like working out at the gym. As is often said – ‘if you don’t use it you lose it’. The reality is’ that remaining in our comfort zone can lead to a decline in our confidence.
Living courageously means accepting that we may fail and that failure is not a reflection of our worth, but rather a stepping stone to growth. For many of us, it takes immense bravery to confront personal failures or to admit that we want something more out of life than we currently have. It is in this raw acknowledgement that we can make room for transformation. Every time I face a challenging moment, I learned that courage allows us to redefine our narrative. While I am not saying this is always easy, acknowledging that we all have a choice in each moment allows us to choose whether we view setbacks as opportunities to grow or as insurmountable obstacles. I know which choice I prefer.
From a young age, women are often taught to be kind, polite and accommodating. We internalise messages that prioritise others’ needs over our own ambitions, which can stifle our courage to pursue our dreams. Cultivating inner courage, however, allows us to break free from these expectations. It empowers us to take risks—whether pursuing a new career, standing up against injustice, or even expressing our true emotions without fear of judgment.
Two years ago I took, what was for me, a courageous act in leaving a legal partnership to establish my own legal and governance practice. It is interesting how I now question if I have been as courageous since. The reality is, however, that speaking up in a meeting, advocating for ourselves, taking ownership of our contributions or being vulnerable in making new connections are all acts of courage. We need to appreciate that acts of courage vary in both size and form, and all are equally important. In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson:
‘Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours in no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name’.
Awaken and exercise your courage as we each look to create a legacy defined by impactful choices and unapologetic self-expression.
