Curling up for a peaceful nap with a friendly companion in a comfy bed doesn’t conjure up images of a courageous act. But those of you who have read previous posts about Grace’s aversion to children, you know differently. It takes a ton of courage–a major leap of faith that the small person snuggled up beside you isn’t going to scare you. Or hurt you.
Grace stayed with friends this weekend while we were out-of-town and you can imagine my surprise when I received an email update to say that Grace had taken the initiative to curl up beside their toddler for a quiet hour-long nap! That took courage.
Courage: it’s a theme I’ve heard several times in the past few days. In our workplace environments, being courageous can be rare. There seems to more inertia to preserve the status quo than to make significant change, even when it makes sense to do so. Courage is the ability to move forward, despite the doubts or fear you face. It takes courage to stand up for things that we feel are right, especially when others around you may be actively resisting your initiative.
Think about your own role. You may be in a situation where you need to be courageous. Or you may be in a position to support a person doing something courageous. It can be as simple as when someone comes to you with a new idea. No matter what you first think of the idea, it’s probably worth exploring. Our first reaction may be to resist, but what’s holding you back? Why not explore? Great achievements take initiative, support, change, and courage.
Being courageous comes in many shapes and sizes. To you, something may seem easy (like taking a nap in an adorable Thomas Train bed on a lazy afternoon), but it might be monumental for the other person. And moving forward takes someone to lead and someone to support. Whatever role you play is important for a successful outcome.
