The Power to Act

“I want to be courageous.  That’s what I want out of my coaching!”  What a powerful declaration about who my client intends to be in the world. The conversation took me back to my time at the Strozzi Institute, Leadership in Action Program in Petaluma, CA when I made a similar declaration and it changed my life forever!

I used to live with the misconception that courage is a state of not fearing; that self-possession, resolution, bravery or valor happens only when fear is absent.  So I was always surprised when people used the word courageous when describing me.  I certainly didn’t experience myself as courageous. In these instances, there was an “if they really knew what I was feeling they wouldn’t call me courageous” inner dialogue. Today I believe that fear is linked to courage.  I wonder why it is that sometimes I courageously address my fears, and other times stay safely in my comfort zone?

It helps me to think of courage in two specific areas of threat; from without or from within.  When danger comes from the outer world, my responses are reactive.  If a ball is coming at me I’ll duck or catch it.  If I’m personally challenged or someone I love is being threatened, my reaction will be quick and fierce.  I get that kind of courage; it’s instinctive and primal. There is no thought involved.  It’s the courage of a lion protecting his kill.

What is less obvious is the kind of courage that is called for each day to confront the obscure internal threats to change and growth.  How does my client go from an intention to be courageous to taking courageous actions?  My biggest challenges do not come from external sources; they show up in my internal dialogues, the security of my past behaviors, or old beliefs that can keep me stuck.  When I meet the enemy and the enemy is within my ‘mind and heart,’ how can we muster the courage to act? How do I engage my mind and empower my heart?  That is the type of courage that my client is being asked to access right now and it’s one of the life lessons I learned at the Strozzi Institute.

I engaged the mind by creating the “what.”   What is it that I want to achieve (and/or) accomplish?  What will success look like?  That’s was the easiest part of the mind heart equation.   I engage the heart by truly finding the “why.” Why am I doing this? Really! Why will this matter ten years from now?  Why should I keep moving forward when all my internal demons are rearing their ugly heads?

I stood in front of my classmates and declared publicly that I was committed to “bringing the Power to Act Series out into the world both nationally and internationally.”  With the ‘what’ clearly in my mind the next crucial action was to address the question ‘why’ I should step up to the plate to face my fears and take action even when every part of me said to stay safe.

I continued my declaration by addressing the reason ‘why’ it was important for me to implement my program. “Professionally the Power to Act Series provides information needed to help us grow personally.  Our world is at a critical juncture and it it imperative for us to consciously evolve.  What’s at stake?  Our existence as human beings.  The continuation of our plant as we know it.  Personally I believe that we are all connected and that every time I grow personally or stand up and step out of my comfort zone to face my fears we all benefit. My prayer is that with my taking new actions  my granddaughters, nieces and nephews will be freed up to face their own fears and evolve into their higher selves.”

In that declaration I realized that my role is to be a model of courage for the generations that follow.   How did I know that I had found my ‘why’?  Because when I spoke my passion was palpable.  Those who experienced my declaration gave me a standing ovation.  They volunteered to help me with the program. They were moved because I was moved!

That powerful declaration shifted life as I knew it.  I realized that it was not enough to make a declaration like “I want to be courageous”.  When it’s just about me I knew that I could rationalize not advancing my commitment.  Because those who I care about benefit from my courageous actions it is an important enough ‘why’ to provide me the courage to face my fears and take action anyway.  In the end it is the heart that empowers my will to accomplish.  Without engaging the passion of the heart a good  intention often withers and dies on the vine.

It’s the heart of the ‘lion’ that is the source of courage and provides us with the will to keep going when external or internal obstacles appear. With our mind engaged and our heart empowered we can access the fierce energy and the willpower of the ‘courageous lion’ that is within us all!

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