Coach Michele’s Group Coaching March 7, 2011

Today’s Topic Choosing Courage

Basics Courage has some different definitions The best definitions will make it easier for us to be courageous We all can tap into courage, it is a choice There are all sorts of benefits that come with choosing courage When you live with courage, you live from the heart

Definitions of Courage a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear (wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn) wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation (wikipedia) fearpain risk/dangeruncertaintyintimidationfearpain risk/dangeruncertaintyintimidation The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery. (American Heritage Dictionary)

Your Definition of Courage How would you define or describe courage? Is courage something you normally consider when making decisions and /or facing your fears?

Helpful Understandings of Courage We used to think of courage as something you had or you didn’t, you were brave, or you weren’t We used to think that brave people aren’t scared In fact, it is the bravest people that are scared, that are brave enough to feel their fear, and as Susan Jeffers says, “do it anyway”

Dwight Goldwinde A great friend of mine, Dwight Goldwinde is a coach living in China. He has given considerable thought and written a book in fact, about courage. Find Dwight at his website Courage is the will and the willingness to embrace and fully feel your fear as you take the actions and risks in service to your highest commitments and deepest desires. Courage is created; it is chosen. And it is chosen in the moment. It is always available to you. It is always an open door, waiting for you to walk through or not. Courage is the will and the willingness to embrace and fully feel your fear as you take the actions and risks in service to your highest commitments and deepest desires. Courage is created; it is chosen. And it is chosen in the moment. It is always available to you. It is always an open door, waiting for you to walk through or not.

More about Courage Not that I can speak for him but Dwight would say something like you don’t choose courage because you think it’ll get the results you want, you choose courage because you want to be authentic with yourself. Because of the benefits intrinsic to choosing courage.

Why choose Courage What do we think the intrinsic benefits of choosing courage are? Have you ever chosen courage and felt good about that choice, regardless of the results?

Choosing Courage is Choosing Your Heart The word Courage comes from the latin cor – heart It means being brave enough to be the real you, and pursue what your soul tells you is right action

Steps to Choosing Courage The steps to choosing courage are the same steps for any positive action or state of being! Be conscious about the true nature of situations Be conscious and allowing of your true feelings Find your center Determine what your heart and soul are telling you Decide if you are going to do/say what your heart and soul are telling you Act or don’t act in alignment with yourself Honor yourself for your conscious decision

Discussion Are there areas of your life where you’d like to choose more courage? Some say that if you are too brave, you could become reckless…Do we believe that is so? How do we know when courage becomes recklessness? What do we think life will come to look like when you consistently choose courage?

Next Session Calls will be held on Monday nights in March Next Session…Mon March 14th, 2011 Coaching Techniques