Finding Courage

Our world is full of False Evidence Appearing Real - or Fear. We all experience it intensely at different times in our lives. As sensitive, vulnerable human beings, we struggle with the imbalances this energy creates in our bodies.

Sometimes fear may appear to have an eternal shelf life. But retreating to the heart helps us remember who we are. In this space, a place where truth never changes, we can diffuse fear's debilitating triggers to move any stuck energy. And movement is the enemy of fear.

Our heart's courage doesn't always speak loudly. But it insists we're here with a defined purpose, a supreme directive, and that we're ok!

This episode explores the paralyzing effects of fear, what causes it, and how uncovering a way to dismiss it, can lead to finding courage. 

To Support the production of Heart Sense please use the following Link. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1888298/support


Music by: Marshall Styler
CDs  Jericho
Songs: Jericho
In These Rooms
piano@marshallstyler.com

Sponsors
Skinplicity of Sedona
Managing the Aging Process
928-514-6120
www.skinplicityofsedona.com

The Copper Heart Art for Heart Sense
Artist Catherine Stefanavage
Website:  iamcatherine.com
Email: iamcatherine16@gmail.com

Transcript

Hello I’m your host, Riverann. And this is Heart Sense. A podcast for aligning, strengthening, and opening our hearts to a frequency of love that heals ourselves and our planet. Thank you for being here!

I’ve been challenged, experiencing the exhaustion that comes when I over extend and over give. When I soldier up as a rescuer and drain my energy in the process. What led me to this place? Fear. Fear that if I didn’t show up with all my gifts and resources, I might lose someone I love.

I’m realizing I can’t save or protect anyone. I can only presence myself physically or spiritually for support. And hopefully, guide them to go within for self empowerment and healing. 

When I think about personal battles; I see fear as the most common road block to emergence. I’m not suggesting that fear hasn’t any positive qualities. It alerts of danger and can serve as a catalyst for action. However, fear becomes a formidable opponent growing impressively large, powerful, and intense when it consumes our thoughts and emotions

Some of us are like herding dogs more able to maneuver in and out of challenges, unfamiliar tunnels, and over bridges to the finish line. Enjoying the tasks that make us more courageous. While others are terrified of the road markers, jumping over barriers, and the speed of the process moving through obstacles. 

I’ve witnessed the same responses from different breeds of dogs, exposed to unknown objects in an agility course. Some thrive at the challenges while others tremble when there’s no real threat of imminent danger.

You might wonder like I have, why we respond so differently to the same stimulus? When we look at FEAR as an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real, we have our answer. 

As I watch a loved one coping with multiple physical challenges and a life threatening illness. I become acutely aware, of the disempowering mantras people tell themselves, when they feel helpless and afraid. These thoughts… those thoughts are the demons of fear. They move people into a place of endless self doubt, vulnerability, and reactivity, — not knowing what to believe or where to focus.

Fear has many faces and can stem from a feeling of inadequacy, anger, shame, unworthiness, rejection, abandonment, or just the unfamiliar. It’s helpfully if we understand that fight or flight reactions are stimulated not only by life threatening situations. But also by irrational whispers coming from unhealed places within us drawn up by fear.

In fact that’s exactly what it does when paired with the ego. It paralyzes our energy to breed every kind of dis-ease we can imagine. It leads us like its personal army into conflicts, irrational behavior, and meltdowns. It throws off our internal GPS — robbing us of our true sense of self.

Fear becomes an addiction when it begins to attach itself to every thought, emotion, and response we have.  I hear people say, “But I need to understand my fear.” What most don’t realize, is that fear can easily becomes a close companion. Because it’s so often used to explain our reactions.

Our world is flooded with propaganda instilling fear of the unknown. The projections and misinformation are creating compliance, helplessness, and a smug complacency for the real dangers of our world. 

Instead of responding to life with intellectual curiosity and emotional balance. People are reacting and disconnecting to others simply because of different perspectives. Most children are not learning coping mechanisms. They’re stuffing their emotions, conforming to belong, and mimicking adults flagrantly violating one another. 

Any time fear is allowed to occupy space, it consumes  the rational mind and the present moment. It can close our hearts to wisdom and steal the future. It devastates lives and freezes human evolution. The antidote, is being able to observe and dismiss it when it’s throwing us off balance.

This episode is dedicated to finding courage. One of the most valuable traits we possess to explore our strength, heal relationships, and change our inner and outer world.

So let’s begin by exploring the word. Courage is defined as “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, and pain without fear.” It allows us to connect with our inner strength and the wisdom of the soul. 

Courage actually hosts another reality of conscious choices. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the assessment, that something else is more important than fear.”

There is a boldness in courageous behaviors. A daring determination, enduring firmness, grit, or audacity that refuses to compromise on our values. Maya Angelou wrote, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because, without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”

When we access this place within ourselves the impossible becomes possible. Because what we encounter is a new direction or spontaneous action that strengthens our ability to move. We see it in heroism, leadership, recovery, and transformation that changes lives and inspires others. 

Courageous acts are often the place where miracles occur. The child is saved from an icy river, the death sentence becomes an inaccurate diagnosis, the ballerina dances again, and relationships are healed.

And yet, social norms encourage people to accept limitations. To believe they are victims of circumstances, powerless to change their lives. This often leads people to solicit comfort for weakness. 

Finding one’s courage can be a complex task. Because it’s not just about bravery. It’s openly sharing the truth of who we are with one another at the possible expense of rejection. Brené Brown says, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” 

I’ve found it leads me to develop emotional strength, empathic qualities, greater vision and a defined purpose. It’s a willingness to acknowledge my heart’s voice as the supreme director of my life.

Courageous people embrace their imperfections with a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves. They’ve often experienced painful or harrowing life experiences. But they choose to view them differently. Finding opportunities in the rubble instead of crippling hardships.  

Let’s take a look at how we develop our first strategy for courageous behavior. Beginning with something most of us can relate to — a baby learning to walk. An infant first explores her hands and feet. Standing up in a crib she begins to interact and process the world around her. Crawling exposes her to a closer look at the unknown. Finally with curious excitement, she decides to bravely takes a step forward and learns to balance her body with gravity. 

If you think about it, we can apply these steps to many everyday activities as well as our most courageous acts. Including those that activate the heart to leap into service in a catastrophic event.

Living with a courageous heart embodies more curiosity about life and 

expands our vision. It moves us into a deeper state of awareness of one another and our planet. Only then can we embrace the work needed to create a more sustainable and equitable world, as heart centered humans.

Our willingness to show up and be seen strengthens the life force within us.  Because our most profound guidance is not from the outside world. It’s that small voice inside that becomes a roar when we move outside our comfort zone. 

Many of you came to assist with the transformation of the planet. And it began with a conscious desire to heal yourself. I’m sure you are searching for the most powerful human experience you can have in this life. Finding courage and up leveling compassion, holds a love offering for everyone in the world. 

With mindfulness and presence we can move through life’s challenges with a discernment unmarried to the negative side of fear.

If you’re in crisis, know you will make it through this moment to a more beautiful and expansive experience. And, that you’re not alone. The friends you’re traveling with are wisdom and courage. A short distance up the road, love and compassion will join you. After that, empowerment, gratitude, and kindness begin to show themselves and teach us that our life experiences don’t always have to hard. In fact I’ve found that a playful attitude brings in joy, embracing all the nuances surrounding you. 

Finally, I want you to know that this podcast is part of my soul’s purpose. That’s why I’m here, experienced the same challenges and crossing these bridges with you.

As are the other magnificent people in your life and soul group. Together we are  gathering our courage for the road ahead. This time on planet earth is no walk in the park, that’s for sure. But there’s a bigger plan unfolding… and we have a part to play in a magnificent new beginning.

Notice the opportunities being created when you align with your personal courage to be seen, heard, respected, loved and appreciated, just for showing up. These acts affirm the power of one and the power of three or more.

And if you aren’t receiving what you need from others; please give it to yourself. That small inner voice holds huge love and direction. Ignite your strength with an unwavering belief in your value, courage, and voice. 

I want to leave you with two thoughts. The first is from — William Faulkner who said, “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

The opposite of Courage is not cowardice, it’s conformity. Thomas Jefferson echoed this when he said, “One man with courage is a majority.”

 OUTRO

If you've enjoyed or been inspired by this episode, please do two things for me. Share this podcast with those you love and check out the generous sponsors supporting Heart Sense… I’ve hand-picked each of them for their professional services, products, integrity, and conscious alignment to joy, healing, and well-being. Please let them know you heard about them on this podcast! 

I also welcome your reviews and ratings on Apple Podcasts. So if you’d like to encourage others to listen to Heart Sense please take a moment to share what you’ve received from this podcast.

Thanks to Marshall Styler for providing the original music for this episode from his CD, A Face In The Clouds. You can find a link to Marshall’s music in the show notes and online by going to: piano@marshallstyler.com

Today’s Sponsor funding was provided by Skinplicity of Sedona.

Maintaining our skin’s beauty can be relatively painless with new RF light technologies and laser treatments? Skinplicity offers non-invasive, effective alternatives for rejuvenating the body without invasive surgery. It’s also less expensive!

Choose from a selection of facial treatments, skin tightening, hair removal, cellulite reduction, vaginal rejuvenation and more. These modalities empower our bodies to manage the aging process by stimulating the production of collagen and enhancing circulation. I’ve experienced some of these treatments and they’re absolutely fabulous. For more information, visit: skinplicityofsedona.com or call 928-514-6120. 

As always, I appreciate your time and support. If you’d like to become a sponsor, partner, donate to the production of Heart Sense, or share your feedback or story with me, I’d love to hear from you! Email me at: ourheartsense2@gmail.com

It’s my hope that these episodes bring more light to your heart, more vision to your life, and facilitate more healing in the world.                                                 

This is Riverann. Thanks for listening…