Are you a courageous person? Would you say that about yourself? Would others say that about you?
I recently started the latest book from best-selling Canadian self-help author, Robin Sharma, entitled The Everyday Hero Manifesto. While Sharma is best known for his Monk Who Sold His Ferrari series of books, he has continued to elevate the wisdom of his teachings, largely gained by instructing and coaching hundreds of thousands of people around the world over the past 25 years.
The Everyday Hero Manifesto is written in short chapters of a few pages each, just like his 2006 and 2008 books, The Greatness Guide and The Greatness Guide Book 2. Each chapter highlights a particular leadership or growth nugget from an experience of Sharma’s. The short, insight-rich chapters make for easier reading.
While the word ‘hero’ is overused in our society (mostly by TV news and big advertising), the word ‘courage’ has still managed to escape over usage to this point.
So, what was your response to the three questions at the start? When you answer honestly to yourself, what do you say in your head?
The reason I ask is that, just like baby formula, lumber, and computer chips – courage is in short supply these days. And no, the narcissists trying to convert everyone to their way of thinking don’t count as ‘courage’.
You get courage by stepping out beyond your comfort zone consistently. It’s being afraid and acting anyway. Courage is like so many valuable qualities – a skill! Like weedwacking a straight lawn edge, making a TikTok, or being more genuine – trainable skills!
As Brené Brown says, “You get it [courage] by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.”
To be clear – I’m not asking you to go into a burning building to save a dog. Courageous acts that occur on the daily are things like starting an important conversation that has been festering. Holding a boundary that is important to you, but you’re allowing people to (unknowingly) take advantage of it. Saying no to someone you respect when something isn’t as much a priority to your goals. Helping someone in need without expecting anything in return. Appreciating someone by surprise. Telling someone how you feel. If you need a bit more on how to be courageous, spend more time around people whose courage and action you admire. Even ask them to do something with you that you’ve been avoiding, as there is always strength in numbers.
A wonderful example of courage is Hank — the gentleman I wrote about last month. At age 83 last year, he was sick and tired of how his energy and health felt since taking a nosedive during the pandemic. He has since lost over 50 lbs, wrote a book about it, published it, and is ‘pounding the pavement’ spreading the word about his story and his book – Get Healthy With Hank. He even joined me during a presentation to some seniors at the recent Cowichan Seniors Fair to share his story. That’s inspiring. That’s living an engaged life. That’s everyday courage.
Want more satisfaction in your life? Get uncomfortable. Be more courageous in your everyday life. Be your own everyday hero.
Chris Wilkinson is the Co-Owner for Nurse Next Door Home Care Services for Cowichan and central Vancouver Island. For more info visit www.NurseNextDoor.com or for questions or a free in-home Caring Consult call 250.748.4357, or email Chris.Wilkinson@NurseNextDoor.com