We find ourselves in a sphere of enormous change. Actually, this change might be labeled a national defining moment. Defining moments require us to stop and reflect before stepping up to claim our everyday courage. Before taking that critical first step, like the archer trying to hit a bull’s-eye, it is important to pause and ask a Socratic question: How do we unite as a country and in our communities to find our everyday courage, and how useful is it?

Courageous people often sacrifice and forgo immediate satisfaction by taking risks and hurdling obstacles to achieve a long-range goal. They identify, claim and apply the original definition of courage, meaning “heart and spirit.” When a situation requires them to “step up” and display authenticity, they do! Maybe that’s why the 2000 movie called The Legend of Bagger Vance affected me (or maybe it’s just that I am trying to find my authentic golf swing).

If you didn’t see the movie, a wise caddie named Bagger Vance teaches a troubled Southern golfer how to reach deep inside and find his “authentic swing.” He says: “This is the authentic swing you were born with—the authentic swing is all that you are! You’re just caught up with life’s ‘ought’s and should’s’.” The heart’s message is about having the courage to examine yourself, and that takes a boatload of courage! Socrates steps up again with his famous statement: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

We are in a time of second-guessing ourselves, reacting with knee-jerk reactions. Courage is a spiritual energy from the heart that in defining moments motivates you to take action. Using courage as an ally means bundling a combination of courageous actions, such as learning, persisting to be mindful of defining moments, and being 100 percent accountable for choices. Often, missed opportunities won’t come around again.

Without everyday courage, other virtues such as grace, intolerance and humility may not find their place. Courage is the umbrella to all the other virtues. During defining moments who designs your life?

I would love for you to share your courage comments.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. Please visit www.sandrawalston.com.

Hitting the bull’s-eye means being on target. The term came from seventeenth-century English longbow yeomen in small hamlets. After church services they immediately held archery practice since this was the only time when many of the archers could gather. A common target was the white skull of a bull, and the aim was to hit the bull’s-eye. Before practicing the skills needed to hit the bull’s-eye in your life and work, you need to know that you’re aiming at the right target—then act with courage.

So how do you become courageous by simply being courageous? How can you increase your bull’s-eye accuracy? Here are three bull’s-eye strategies:

1. Determine why you are living off target. If you seldom feel like you hit the bull’s-eye, you may be focusing on negative external factors rather than listening to the affirmation of your heart. Many times negative factors or beliefs represent the lower levels of courage consciousness such as blame or apathy, and statements such as “I deserve it! I have worked hard.” Some researchers assess that many “adults” never developed from the stage called, adolescence. Staying stuck in adolescence would impede a higher level of courage consciousness. In “Higher Development Research Project,” Elizabeth Debold, EdD writes, “When researchers and theorists speak about higher development, they are referring to levels or stages that go beyond child psychologist Jean Piaget’s formal operational stage. Early formal operational thinking is typically acquired in adolescence. Many people reach this stage and happily live the remainder of their lives from it. In fact, pooling across a variety of studies in the U.S. that include a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, roughly 79% of adults do not develop beyond this level.”

As you gain a healthier perspective about who you are, where you are stuck, and the obstacles that keep you in StuckThinking™, you begin to limit off-target shots that stall you from leading at work and at home with your everyday courage.

2. Enhance your accuracy with meditation. Learn to take time to reflect (pause, like an archer to focus inwardly) so that you live from the core of your true being. Meditation can reveal your motivations such as belief systems that thwart you from making a change in a job you loathe. Complacency is a courage-killer that breeds in lower levels of courage consciousness. Meditation is a contemplative process that begins to reawaken your true courage. A courage-centered life, one that comes from the heart and spirit (the original definition of courage) develops and enhances the five levels of courage consciousness. Soon you are not only hitting the target, but living a bull’s-eye life.

3. Start to underscore your bull’s-eyes. Underscoring your defined behavioral competencies is noted as the times when you feel energized or animated about your life and work—your spirit is being regenerated. Psychologist, Abraham Maslow called it self-actualization—you have maximized your potential.

Why is increasing your courage potential important? When you increase your courage you increase your self-esteem. When you increase your self-esteem you increase your self-fulfillment. When you increase your self-fulfillment and your time comes to pass on you will have no regrets. No regrets connote bulls-eyes!

I would love for you to share your bull’s-eye comments.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. Please visit www.sandrawalston.com.

Webster’s Dictionary defines courage as mental or moral strength; however, courage comes from the Old French word "corage," meaning heart and spirit. So it has little to do with society’s label of physical bravado or heroic acts much less split-second decisions.

Courage is something that originates within you, at the core of your being. Awareness of this untapped reservoir of empowerment enables you to direct the energy of your personal courage to produce dramatic, positive change such as learning to speak up when confronted with abusive or disrespectful language.

You manifest your courage in a number of different ways such as affirming your strength and determination, confronting abuse, working through and conquering fear, embracing your faith/spirituality, hurdling obstacles, taking risks, and living your convictions.

You can claim your everyday courage by recognizing these innate courage behaviors and claiming them as your own. How do you recognize your everyday courage? Your courage is reflected in your refusal to play it safe, dodge discomfort or hedge your bets. These courage-centered behaviors are reflected in your behavior. How often you hit the bull’s eye.

Centered Courage Hits the Bull’s-Eye

Hitting the bull’s-eye means being on target. English longbow yeomen in small hamlets often held archery practice after church services. A common target was the white skull of a bull, and the aim was to hit the bull’s eye. Before practicing the skills needed to hit the bull’s-eye in your life and work, you need to know that you’re aiming at the right target—then act with courage.

Acting with courage is about acting from the heart. Everything outside the bull’s-eye represents a different aspect of the false self-stories, such as “I could never be like that”! By accessing your courage, you take aim at the true target.

Are You on Target? It may take years for you to find the courage to act from your heart—the place where self-fulfillment lives—and express your true identity, thus revealing your authenticity. Rest assured, your courage is alive in your original self. The word authentic is derived from Greek authentikos, meaning “original.”

Learn to live from the inside—the bull’s eye of your true being. Skilled archers pause their breath before releasing the arrow. This pause enables you to manifest a vision yet stay present to adapt to what is needed as new variables come in to play.

You become courageous by being courageous, hitting the bull’s-eye more often.

Join me next time to learn three strategies to increase your bull’s eye accuracy.

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, courage coach, trainer, speaker and internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.sandrawalston.com

When you look around the office, do you see acts of courageous behavior? Sometimes, it's not so obvious.  Courage paradoxes permeate the workplace, making it difficult to distinguish the different types of “team” courage (an independent thinker who also contributes to the team and a team player who does not bend under pressure, for example). When an individual commits to a courage leadership environment that includes the twelve courage actions I have researched, team courage prevails such as tackling the tough project no one wants. Conversely, if each individual portrays courage leadership actions, “team courage” still shines. Both examples reflect courage consciousness; it is simply manifested in different ways. How do you “get” this forgotten virtue?

Courage Taught or Learned? My research demonstrates that courage exists within each of us, and I believe that courage is your birthright! When you allow your courage to surface, you learn to cultivate and nurture it. How you learn to recognize and manifest your courage does not really matter. What matters is your receptivity. That being said, having a parent or mentor who teaches you about your courage can be a tremendous benefit.

Life is rarely anguish-free. It takes personal courage to overcome challenges and become the person you are capable of being. Ask yourself, “Am I willing to live my life with courage in a new way?” What would I do if I had “unlimited courage?”

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.sandrawalston.com.

Ask yourself: “Why would I want to exhibit the efficiency that courage leadership enables?” You will discover that there is an direct correlation between your “courage quotient” and your “success quotient.” When you begin to live in the present you can recognize when you are selling your soul. For example, people assume that finding a new job will be difficult, so they remain complacent, mistakenly believing—or simply hoping—that things will change. Yet, in reality, situations seldom change by themselves. To show courage, decide when it’s time to face the truth or prompt a change: then, be eager to discover the next opportunity. Facing the facts and taking action are required if you wish to change your life.

The concepts of courage-centered living are deceptively simple. The mind (ego) will want to undermine them. After all, how could something so easy work? In the article “Simple Courage,” René Da Costa writes that people demonstrate a tendency to shun simplicity for complexity. “Simplicity takes talent and dedication.… It takes courage to advocate simplicity. Simplicity has nowhere to hide and neither do those who advocate it.”

We become courageous by being courageous. It’s that simple!

All you have to do is decide whether this forgotten virtue is worth learning. Leadership qualities are defined by courage, such as asking for the tough project or staying focused on the results. What would motivate you to explore where this ancient virtue fits into your work life?

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.sandrawalston.com.

Courage Research
My research demonstrates that different people define courage differently. Your definition of courage defines who you are! Based on my first five years of courage research, I identified twelve behaviors of courage, including living your convictions, manifesting vision, affirming strength and determination and conquering fear. Now, with almost thirteen years of research I extracted twelve obstacles that impede taking courage to work such as inertia, intimidation, denial and manipulation along with twelve complimentary courage actions to overcome the obstacles such as giving yourself permission to claim your courage, taking on the tough project, exiting bad situations quickly and revealing vulnerability. 

Virtues are Abstract
Most people say, “Courage is not even a word I had given much thought to.” Like all virtues, it is abstract. We grow up learning other virtues, such as honesty, integrity or humor, and maybe even the other cardinal virtues—justice, wisdom and moderation, but courage is the forgotten virtue because people do not recognize their everyday actions as significant. Courage is a state of being. Sometimes courage is about making sacrifices for a bigger principle. Acts of personal courage rarely roar! Why? Something called “where courage meets courage” integrates into the persona.
 
Each day your actions define who you are and reveal your heart. Most people do not perceive themselves as courageous, and only eleven percent of women do. What’s required is a shift in cultural tenets that begins with learning about courage at school, home and work; then, you learn that courage is the mother of all the virtues.

To initiate that change in perspective, answer these four questions:
1.  When was the last time you used the word “courage?”
2.  Are you willing to invite true “heart and spirit” courage into your life?
3.  When your time comes to pass on, will you have been true to your heart and spirit, or will you have regrets that you did not go for what interests you?
4.  Do one or more obstacles like inertia, denial, invisibility or apathy have you stuck?

There is an untapped reservoir of courage in us all. Join me next time to learn about courage leadership.

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.walstoncourage.com.

Happy New Year!

Courageously yours

WHAT DO I MEAN BY impoverished courage? First of all, the predominant cultural understanding of courage has become limited and impoverished. Nowadays, only facing fear under perilous circumstances tends to receive the courage label or award. Running into a burning building to save a child, pushing a pedestrian out of the way of a speeding car, throwing oneself on a grenade in battle, or tackling an escaping robber are readily accepted as courageous behaviors.

Our understanding of courage makes an enormous difference. Why? There are so many myths out there about courage! One radio announcer said, “It’s the man who pulls a guy out of the Potomac River when a plane goes down or the guy who runs into a burning building to get some kid out, that’s courageous, not some woman who teaches in a hard-luck school in the ghetto for twenty-five years because ‘they need her’ or some kid who sends in his allowance to the Red Cross when there’s a flood in Africa, or the guy who tells on a cheating boss. These are nice people, but they’re not courageous! Real courage takes a lot of muscle and split-second thinking.”

In my opinion, this radio announcer denigrates true courage by confining it to physical boldness. Most ideas about courage lean toward split-second sensationalism that relies on instinct instead of integrity. Perhaps this man believes only larger-than-life people possess the prime personality traits capable of responding in an emergency. Yet, in between, there’s all of life for us “everyday people.” Besides, plenty of ordinary people like Rosa Parks have made their mark on history along with other “famous” people such as Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa. What I am suggesting is that everyday people like you and me display courage constantly and subtly, and this everyday courage hinges on the personal integrity that empowers us to manifest the truth of our “heart and spirit.” With courage, David Hawkins, M.D. writes in Reality, Spirituality, and Modern Man, “one then becomes the beneficiary of human life instead of its victim.”

Becoming aware of the behaviors and rewards of courage, a person feels more empowered to be discerning and better able to respond to the inherent energy of courage. The word virtue in Latin means “energy.” Hiding courage drains energy, but when courage is recognized and acted on a reservoir of courage overflows. Join me again to learn more about my thirteen years of original courage research.

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.walstoncourage.com.

THERE ARE MANY definitions of courage on the Web such as: “Courage, also known as bravery, will and fortitude, is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty” or “the quality of a confident character not to be afraid or intimidated easily but without being incautious or inconsiderate; the ability to do things which one finds frightening” (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/courage). These definitions narrow courage to facing and dealing with danger and fear. Courage is much more complex than spontaneous reactions to traumatic events.

In my thirteen years of original courage research, I return to the etymology of courage based on the Old French corage, meaning “heart and spirit.” There is a big difference between physical bravado versus generic heart and spirit. This is where the power of personal courage lives—a quality so important that it qualifies as one of the four cardinal virtues.  This distinction empowers people to realize their full potential as courageous human beings.

Pulp fiction, comic books, action-oriented television programs and films have all contributed to the limiting, male-oriented view of courage. For women, it may be even more important because the more they recognize the essence of their courage, the more society will break from its stereotypical understanding of courage as physical daring or bravado.

To fully understand this concept of courage, it might be best to start with a foundation that reveals a few perspectives about what courage is and is not. Join me next time to learn what “impoverished courage” looks like.

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.walstoncourage.com.

“Courage can’t see around corners, but goes around them anyway.” ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic’s Notebook, 1960

Everyone can learn to practice courage regardless of career or position. It does not matter if you are a sales associate, graphic designer, project manager, photographer, accountant, administrative assistant, CEO, entrepreneur, journalist, construction worker, electrician, mechanic or stockbroker, you can learn to manifest courage in your work.

What would motivate you to explore where the components of this ancient virtue fit in your work life today? Review the list of “12 things to love about courage” and assess if you come from a reservoir of courage in your work and personal life.

1.         I love that my courage allows me to spread my wings and be all I can be. I am driven by an internal courage-fueled energy field that magnifies my spirit’s fulfillment. My courage is my antitoxin that I apply to setbacks, hurts or duties. How did I start this process? I gave myself permission to express my individuality! Did someone clip your wings?

2.         I love that my courage supports me to exit bad situations quickly. Knowing my personal courage mindset allows me to embrace the courage opportunities I face on my journey. I am no stranger to my courage. I also know that I may feel unjustly punished when I stand in my courage, but courage provides the inner strength to rise above the “victim” mindset. Are you a stranger to your courage? My actions become consistently balanced with my courage consciousness. I love my courage!

3.         I love that my courage sustains me to design a life diminished of regrets. My courage centeredness defines my intentions. Each step (large or small) is an achievement. When my time comes to leave this life, I want to be able to say and feel in my heart, “I have no regrets. I did it my way.” Do you remain deeply consistent with your intentions? If so, reach for the rainbow!

4.         I love that my courage requires me to hold myself one hundred percent accountable for my life’s experiences. I knowingly design those happenings each moment. Courage consciousness supports me as I strive to live in the vibration of my true Self. What life mosaic are you designing? With courage, humility and gratitude merge to dissipate all illusions of self-importance.

5.         I love that my courage competencies expand as I step up the ladder called life. Stepping up reinforces my reservoir of courage, which sustains me until I am ready to take the next exciting step. That next step may be asking for a tough project or changing my hair color. Is your range of courage expanding? I focus on the ancient Chinese proverb: “He who hesitates before each step spends his life on one leg.” Living in courage is economical—it cuts out a myriad of missteps.

6.         I love that my courage self-differentiates me, defining my “brand value.” The driver behind courage is the meaningfulness of my life. These qualities are portrayed through my convictions. My courage allows me to reflect. Choosing some form of reflection, I can learn to be more present to the truth of my personal branding distinction. What is your brand value? Herein lies the courage paradox: stay present, and you will do what is best for you!

7.         I love that my courage guides me to focus on best results. Combining intention with action, courage arms me for success. The power of my spirit illuminates the steps that correlate my success quotient with my courage quotient. Are you willing to sacrifice the external world to find your internal world? It takes courage to design your personal blueprint.

8.         I love that my courage is a friend during times of uncertainty or difficult transitions. There is no need for me to run from myself. My courage permits me to be innately motivated. In courage, my life expresses my heart’s core, reflecting the root meaning of the word courage: “heart and spirit.” Does your life express your heart, your core, your courage? With courage, you can say an absolute “yes” to whatever happens in your life.

9.         I love that my courage develops my success. I develop my success by declaring my intent. My self-esteem supports me during demanding times. I know that hard decisions come alive in the questions, not the answers. Questions inspire actions. I see events as opportunities rather than sources of anxiety. Wisdom often dawns in the midst of pain, providing words of encouragement that should be shared with others. Success is not elusive, and courage is not a barrier to a happy life. Both are venues for your light to shine. What is your definition of success?

10.        I love that my courage self propels me. I am able to reinvent myself as often as needed. I know that conformity is a courage killer. I focus on my accomplishments and maintain a tough measure of accountability. Self-discipline thwarts any mediocrity that might keep me stuck or in anguish. Are you powerfully passionate about who you are? Nothing is more valuable than deepening your sense of who you are. Self-reflection is the key to self-fulfillment.

11.        I love that my courage allows me to stand in my dignity. I do not need to manipulate situations. I know storms will enter my life. They offer opportunities for an honest assessment of my vulnerabilities. How frequently do you witness a mea culpa? Courage supports me to delve beyond my ego’s old behavioral scripts to uncover emotional pain and rewrite those scripts. Only I can choose to stop my suffering created by my ego.

12.        I love that my courage advances my voice. When I confront an uncomfortable truth, the essence of my authentic courage comes to light, and I claim this energy. In Latin, “virtue” means “energy.” Is courage your unsung hero? Are you willing to fall in love with your courage? Courage is the gift that lifts your spirit.

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and originator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.walstoncourage.com.

Courage evolves through openly inviting and boldly seeking its cultivation (“Genius in Gray Areas”). ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS on the value of continual learning commit and recommit themselves to their workforce to form productive and accountable relationships. Identifying setbacks provides one opportunity to identify patterns along with honoring each stage of courage recognition.  Start to monitor your organization’s recognition of the courage initiators below and verify whether you are encouraging courageous behavior:

• Face the facts: Denial is saying “no” to courage

• Quickly take action: Swift to review worst-case scenarios

• Keep stepping up: Always move forward

• Know the value of sacrifice and discipline: Specifically declare an intent about what you want to happen

• Value “courageous will:” If there’s a will there’s a Way

• Ask for the tough projects (the project no one wants): An esteem that allows you to take on a high learning curve project or high risk management aptitude

• Trouble shooting abilities: Invite positive dissent

• Express views in a timely manner: Sensitivity to introverts/extraverts

This process not only reveals the truth about your workforce, it also eliminates unwanted debris such as undermining scripts that stall progress.

One day’s courage often predicts the next day’s expansion in creativity, inspiration, dedication, deeper engagement to the task, intensity, innovation, and the willingness to share insights. Models of individual courage give others permission to grow. No longer immune to its energy, courage deposits allow your heart to exhibit genius.

“The challenge,” says Lou Marines, President of Advanced Management Institute, “is to move beyond the sometimes archaic and pedestrian thinking represented by such items as business myths and anecdotal observations that pass for wisdom.” Courage leadership emerges naturally when human spirits come from their hearts not their heads. These authentic moments reveal the truth about learning and growing!

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and originator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. www.walstoncourage.com.