Sara Bareilles sings that line in my favorite part of one of my favorite songs, as I’m sure you know. And it’s what I want you to think about today and here’s why.
Yesterday was one of those days I wish I could re-create over and over again because yesterday I got to spend a few hours with some women who meet regularly to learn, connect and lift one another up. I got to be lifted and connect with and learn from them and my hope is some of them took something from my message as well since I got to speak to them about the work I do here at Bold New Mom. It was a really good day.
And these sweet girls have a theme this year, which is centered around being brave. I think the idea of being brave is beautiful and fun and when they gave me this T-shirt as a thank you gift it got me really thinking about this word brave and just what it means.
I don’t know about you but I tend to think of brave as coming from some big unusual act of heroism. Like Reverend Rick Cole who is currently living homeless on the streets of Sacramento (for over a week and still going strong) in order to raise awareness and funds for Sacramento’s Winter Sanctuary Program. Warm churches all over Sacramento will open their doors to provide overnight shelter to homeless during the cold winter months and Cole is committed to seeing that program succeed. Now that’s brave and inspiring and just down-right good work. You can support this brave cause right here.
But I don’t think you have to live homeless, go sky diving, or be a warrior in order to be brave. All you have to do is what feels true and right to you regardless of what is easy or popular. Even when you know you might get hurt. Physically hurt or emotionally hurt. Be you. No matter what. That’s what true bravery is. It’s authenticity and vulnerability and honesty. It’s knowing that usually the only real danger is in our minds. Our daily interactions with others, the choices we make and the way we spend our time are all reflections of how brave we are.
It’s standing up for someone being bullied, it’s refusing to join in with the gossip, it’s saying, “No, I can’t bring a dozen cupcakes because I just don’t want to.” And for me brave is eating a McDonalds “specialty sandwich” (my husband and I agree they’re pretty good if you don’t think of them as hamburgers) in front of everyone and not hiding how much I’m enjoying it.
Brave actions come from courageous feelings, which come from empowering thoughts. And that is great news because thoughts are within your control. Completely. That means your feelings are within your control. If you make a conscious effort to examine what you believe, find the thoughts that give you courage, and keep them in your conscious mind, you will find yourself feeling courageous and showing up brave. Here are some thoughts I remember when I’m called on to be brave. Which is most every day. Try them on and see if some of them are true for you too.
Everything is as it should be.
Nothing happens to me. It only happens for me.
My value is never in question.
I am deeply loved.
What other people think of me is more about them than it is about me.
Money is easy.
Everything is figure-out-able.
Heavenly Father has my back. Yours too.
No one else can cause me to feel anything.
I am exactly where I should be.
There is nothing I can do that wouldn’t be worthy of forgiveness.
I am here to grow and evolve.
Hard work feels amazing.
Other people need what I have to offer.
There is plenty of time.
My journey is perfect for me.
What I look for, I will find.
I don’t have fun – I am fun.
There is nothing I truly want that I can’t have.
Other people don’t have to like me. That’s my job.
Please send me YOUR brave thoughts because I’m always looking for new ones to steal. And remember being brave just means being you. So simple right? I’ll see you on the battlefield and I call dibs on being on your team.
PS: I’ve been busy creating some delicious things for you! Sign up to be the first to know HERE.
