I meant to post this earlier in the week, before discovering the very disconcerting flaky internet situation at the Pittsburgh Hilton. I seem to be connected right now (thank goodness) so there’s no time like the present…!
We overlook this one all the time. She’s right; we all yell about being brave, howling our battle cries and charging forth into the great unknown. But anyone who’s gotten anywhere also has an oft-neglected advantage that doesn’t get talked about nearly as often: The kind of critical thinking that tells you when to charge, and when to back off. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give yourself space to succeed.
I forget this easily, and I think a lot of us do. Being brave is hard. Doing the brave thing is a lifelong challenge for most of us, something we have to remind ourselves of, something we have to dredge up courage to engage in. Remembering that our critical decision-making rules the game, that’s a little more subtle. It’s also not as obvious. And, come to think of it, it probably takes a little more skill and a whole different kind of courage.
I’m talking about the kind of courage it takes to stay strong and respect your own decision when you decide it’s time to take on a few more hours at that crappy day job. The kind of courage it takes to keep building your own business when you’re hacking away at projects you don’t care about (the ones currently paying your bills). The kind of courage it takes to continue to believe in yourself and work towards progress even when you have to take a few tiny steps backwards. Giving ground to a tussle, now and then, but staying determined to win the war.
Our battle cry gets us out into the open where the scary things live, but it’s so important to be able to engage in critical thinking about the best course of action right now, no matter what that turns out to be. Sometimes it’s disappointing, or scary in a completely different way. Having the wherewithal (and the balls) to make that decision is what makes you YOURS. It’s what means you can take care of yourself. Don’t fly blind. See, be aware, and know that you’ll come out on top in the end.
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