The courage to change

One of the hardest challenges you may ever face is to open the door to your own life and take an honest look.

by Stacey Badger — 

Courage is a word we all know, and it is a quality we admire when we see it in other people. We applaud their courageous and heroic acts. We love those who show courage in difficult situations, which may leave us breathless. Against all odds, the person triumphed over his or her circumstances and emerged as a winner. This is courage.

Often courageous people’s lives will never be the same. It is likely that they had to make changes within themselves to overcome and triumph before they could face the challenges before them. It is the battle within that requires the most courage of all.

One of the hardest challenges you may ever face is to open the door to your own life and take an honest look. For when you do this — really do this — you will likely have to make changes. And it is also likely that your life will never be the same.

It has been said that opening the door to your own life is harder than opening the door to the universe. It takes a level of courage most of us have never imagined. So you might be saying: “Yes, I want to change, but I’m scared. I don’t know how to find the courage to change. I want to live differently, but I’m afraid of the unknown and don’t know where to start. What should I do?”

You can’t buy courage, and nobody can give it to you. So how do you get it? You don’t have to look far, for everything you need you already have. This sounds like an old cliché, and it is — but it’s also true. The courage really is inside of you.

But, you will need support and love to guide you on your way. And you may need someone to hold your hand, to encourage you and let you know that everything is OK — that you made the right decision and can indeed step through that open door.

You can do a few things to make sure you have the help and support you need as you step upon this new path.

First: Find a mentor. Make sure it is someone you trust, who has walked the path you have chosen and who you know can serve as an example, should you ever stumble. This person likely has gone through the same challenges and will be able to guide you when you start feeling lost.

Second: Reach out to trustworthy friends. Supportive friends are invaluable. They will listen to you without offering advice and help you free your mind of unnecessary burdens.

Third: Start your day with a meditation or prayer practice of your choice. The first 30 minutes will set the rhythm for your entire day. Decide what you want to accomplish. Meditate or pray for the courage to manifest your heart’s desire.

Fourth: Look for organizations or groups that can help and support you with your goals and desires. Many organizations are available to help people make changes in their lives.

Fifth: Follow your heart. This is the most important step. Don’t wait — the time is now. Find the support you need, listen to your heart and follow your dream. The Cowardly Lion (who turned out not to be so cowardly) did it, and so can you.

Stacey Badger is a shamanic healer. 480-473-8957.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 28, Number  4, Aug/Sept 2009.