Grounded by Lack of Courage

What does it mean to be Grounded by Lack of Courage?

Most people just hold back entirely. They never take a chance or a risk, and regularly fear rejection or disappointment.

Perhaps they grew up in an environment where they never received any encouragement. Perhaps all they heard from family, friends and authority figures is that they would amount to nothing. I generally find that to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps I am describing your situation.

Here’s the good news: regardless of how you were raised and regardless of your present socioeconomic situation, you can choose, make a conscience choice, to be bold and exhibit courage.

Let’s say you work in an office environment, you are a clerk manning a cubicle. You are part of a group meeting with the CEO and there is a specific request for ideas or a potential solution to a vexing problem. You have an idea, and you think it’s a good one. Do you raise your hand? If not, why not? Are you waiting for someone else to “break the ice” and be first? What if they offer up an idea or solution that is nearly identical to yours? Actor-Director Woody Allen famously said, “Eighty percent of success is just showing up.”

Sometimes it is the very act of being bold that makes the difference.

I am a big fan of enthusiasm. Poor ideas presented with enthusiasm get more attention than great ideas presented with no passion. And I believe that lack of courage and lack of enthusiasm are related. People with a lack of courage are generally less enthusiastic. So this is a double whammy: low energy and little action.

If you are afraid to take a risk, afraid to raise your hand and say, “Call on me,” if you’re fearful of rejection, fearful of your thoughts and ideas not being taken seriously, you are Grounded by Lack of Courage.

I get it. Things don’t always work out. Rejection and disappointment do happen. But you miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take. Make a conscious decision to be appropriately bold in situations where you previously might have held back. Push past any setbacks and keep being bold, building your confidence with each positive result. Develop a healthy “thick skin” to those who would ridicule your ideas and new-found audacity. Avoid people who say negative things about you in an nonconstructive way.

Minimize a lack of courage, and you can begin moving faster towards achieving your goals and dreams.

https://youtu.be/gfdMsehC0QI