Courage

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I’m sitting in a small coffee shop in downtown Anchorage Alaska. I’m attending the annual conference of a professional association I’m a member of. I find it interesting how these events rarely spark transformative conversations about what we do. We are all humans and we typically strive to be accepted, acknowledged and maybe even respected. So the 800 lb. gorillas in the room define the conversations as we dream about being part of the inner circle. What a waste of personal mental bandwidth.

Building on my previous post about getting off life’s assembly line, I recognize that our ability to transform our personal and professional lives for the better demands considerable courage. The courage to be unique, “authentic” as the progressives say, is fundamental to designing a life that inspires and excites. Be honest, do you truly enjoy getting out of bed and going to work? Do you look forward to every day with equal zest? Are you on a path that you don’t want to get off of. If so, congratulations! If not, you are in good company.

Walking a path less traveled can be scary and there will be droves of friends, family and colleagues who will provide unsolicited critique about why it’s the wrong path. So, we conform as we strive for acceptance. The courage I speak of is not to listen to this advice, to change the filters through which we see life’s challenges and opportunities, find opportunities and growth in what makes each and everyone of us unique, and ignore the inevitable chatter around us. So, look deep inside of yourself, accept the things that make you smile and excited, and find a way to make money doing these things. Not to be trite but I don’t think there are a lot of people who on their deathbed wished that more people accepted them. The challenge is to die with no regrets. Do you have regrets? If so, time to find that less travelled path. Enjoy the journey.

#Courage