Courage Is Like A Muscle...

“Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use.”
– Ruth Gordon, actress

This quote is so true.

Years ago when anxiety had a firm grip on my life I would avoid, deny, deflect, resist or rationalize away the need for change.

Truth was “change” was the only thing that would make this stress go away but I was…

too afraid to try…

too afraid to fail…

too afraid of what other’s would think…

and in some cases more anxious about “change” than whatever I was anxious about at the time.

When I got to the point where I was done making excuses and wanted to be free badly enough I decided to take my first step towards a life of liberty.

Was it terrifying? Yes!

Did I always succeed? No!

Yes! That means I failed…and more than once!

Was it hard, difficult, uncomfortable…Yes…Yes…and Yes!

Was it worth it?

ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT QUESTION!!!!!

Would I take the risk again? In a heart beat…in fact I still do it daily.

Truth is…I didn’t change my life years back when I finally said “enough is enough”…I simply made one little change. When I had that under control I made another little change and so on and so on.

The more I made little changes and eventually through trial and error was able to succeed in those areas the more confident I became in my ability to change and my willingness to try.

The more my confidence and abilities increased the larger steps I could take.

As time went on I actually began to enjoy taking risks and moving out of my comfort zone because I started to believe “I can actually do this…”

What is it you are afraid of?

Does ongoing stress have a firm hold on your life, feelings, personality, mind, thoughts and actions?

Are you tired of anxiety negatively affecting your career, relationships, the pursuit of your dreams and your life in general?

If you have truly had enough and are willing to finally take back the reins of your life than take out a pen and some paper and start writing…

1. All the things you are afraid of, stressed about, worry continually over.

2. Write out what you want your life to look like…how do you want to feel…how will you be when you can freely express your personality?

3. What are the things you want to do with your life once you are no longer restricted by these negative emotions?

4. Make a list of all the things you know would help you move towards being the person described above…what can you learn, what needs to change…what do you know you need to do or stop doing?

5. Pick ONLY one thing on the list from step #4 and ask yourself honestly if starting today you can make this change or adjustment in your life and consistently carry it through until it is a habit or normal part of your life?

6. If it is too scary or too big or overwhelming than either pick an easier one from the list OR try and break down the “scary” one into smaller parts. Try and think of how you can take the one step you chose and break it into 5 steps that can be done one at a time.

7. If after breaking the one step down further and it still seems too much than continue to break it down until you can confidently look at the broken down step and say to yourself “yes…I can do this”.

8. Remember even if it’s a small and easy step you will probably still fail more than once before you master it so tell yourself “it is ok if I fail”.

9. Once you feel like this step is adequately integrated into your life than pick another and make sure to take out a black marker and cheer yourself on as you cross the previous item off the list.

10. Carry on with this process and watch your confidence and self esteem rise while your anxiety, resistance and negativity decline.

Courage is like a muscle…We strengthen it with use…

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Courage Is Like A Muscle...
Courage Is Like A Muscle...
Courage Is Like A Muscle...
Courage Is Like A Muscle...
Courage Is Like A Muscle...