Take Heart.

We are called upon to do something new, to confront a no man’s land, to push into a forest where there are no well-worn paths and from which no one has returned to guide us.

To live into the future means to leap in into the unknown, and this requires a degree of courage for which there is no immediate precedent and which few people realize.

– Rollo May, The Courage to Create

“Have the courage to fail!

Have the courage to admit your fears!

Courage is being afraid and taking that scary step anyway!”

Oh, the mantras about courage.

Courage: a word derived from the original language of the heart – “coeur” as French for heart – has now become the chant of well-meaning cheerleaders, coaches, and consultants.

In this last conversation with you, I want to share some thoughts on courage, and offer up an alternative way of looking at a concept that I believe can be a dead-end alley for those looking to take the next step in their business journey.

A good friend and I had a conversation the other day about courage. She made the comment that I seemed “fearless.” I laughed to myself and thought, “If only she could peer inside!”

She’s right on a few fronts: I’m not afraid to travel alone. To make a souffle. To pick up a snake.

I AM afraid of commitment. I’ve been terrified of putting my work out for the public to see. For many years, I avoided public speaking at all costs. I’m afraid of getting older and losing my physical health.

It reminded me (yet again) that we aren’t what we seem on the outside.

There’s simply no universal definition of “courage” and what good does it do us anyway to preach about it? Like so many things in our social media-drenched culture, we use ‘courage’ as a way to compare ourselves to others (and nearly always fall short).

I suggest that we change the conversation. Instead of talking about courage (and implicitly fear), can we talk about creativity? Can we, as Elizabeth Gilbert talks about in her “Letter to Fear” below, demote the entire conversation around courage to the back seat and focus instead on the road ahead?

I’m not suggesting glossing over, denial, pretending fear doesn’t exist, or magically thinking ourselves out of very real emotions and past traumas. I’m talking about consciously detaching from the emotion just enough to be able to see it for what it is, how it may be limiting us, and gently, lovingly take action that has the effect of refocusing our attention on . . .

Being real. Letting ourselves be guided by our creative instincts and intuition. Welcoming abundance and allowing ourselves to receive it. Creating really awesome stuff – ideas, products, services – and putting it out there as an act of generosity, to serve others. And then letting it go.

This is an act of movement, not thinking or analysis. My experience has been that even the smallest action can create the energetic momentum to detach enough to see what’s going on.

Make an origami bird. Talk to the person next to you at the coffee shop. Write just one blog post, even if you don’t intend to publish it. Do a square. These actions PRY us out of our present state of fear and inertia, enough that we have a slightly different perspective on our current situation.

And always, always, always, safeguard that inner spark of genuine creativity that needs oxygen, fuel, and protection, until it’s strong enough to burn brighter and brighter.

Move.

Friends, these are the principles by which we strive to run our business. Our lives.

We believe that the “how” we do our work in the world is as important as the “what.”

How we do one thing is how we do everything.

If you feel affinity with our message and our work, we’d love to work with you!

And thank you for accompanying us on this 5-part journey of the lessons we’ve learned along the way in business, art, living life. We hope our message provides support, inspiration and adds perspective.

Happy journeys!!

A Letter to Fear

Dearest Fear:

Creativity and I are about to go on a road trip together. I understand you’ll be joining us, because you always do.

I acknowledge that you believe you have an important job to do in my life, and that you take your job seriously. Apparently your job is to induce complete panic whenever I’m about to do anything interesting—and, may I say, you are superb at your job.

So by all means, keep doing your job, if you feel you must. But I will also be doing my job on this road trip, which is to work hard and stay focused.

And Creativity will be doing its job, which is to remain stimulating and inspiring. There’s plenty of room in this vehicle for all of us, so make yourself at home, but understand this: Creativity and I are the only ones who will be making any decisions along the way.

I recognize and respect that you are part of this family, and so I will never exclude you from our activities, but still—your suggestions will never be followed.

You’re allowed to have a seat, and you’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote.

You’re not allowed to touch the road maps; you’re not allowed to suggest detours; you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature.

Dude, you’re not even allowed to touch the radio. But above all else, my dear old familiar friend, you are absolutely forbidden to drive.”

~ Elizabeth Gilbert

READ PREVIOUS POSTS IN SERIES:

Read Part 1: “Be Real. Be Prosperous.”

Read Part 2: “Serve. Don’t Sell.”

Read Part 3: “Stop. Unlearn. Go.”

Read Part 4: “Imagine That.”

Interested to know more about how we help people grow their businesses?

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We look forward to meeting you!

~ Mark and Angela

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