Courage

The new year brings different feelings and thoughts for each of us. Some of us are working on new goals, making resolutions or trying to form new habits. I have heard several people talk about focusing on one word for the year. Others are focusing on just being better each day. While others are just making it through each day. I love that the new year gives us the possibility of opening our minds to positive intentions and can give us the feeling of a fresh start on our lives. We can take time to evaluate what we have done over the last year and what we might have missed. We can always do better, try more, add a new goal and once again, start making healthy choices.

My favorite was my friend that posted this:

I am in on that as well.

There are many things on my mind for the new year and many new possibilities for myself and my family this year. As we begin this new year, courage has been on my mind. Every day courage, or ordinary courage, as Brené Brown refers to in her book The Gifts of Imperfection, is a constant thought for many things in my life these days. I am currently reading this book for the second time, and also finished another book of hers for the second time at the end of the year, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. She writes about practicing courage, compassion and connection and guiding you to living a wholehearted life. I love her work and love telling people about it. Vulnerability and shame are a big part of her research, which I have found can be an uncomfortable topic for some of us, understandably.

When I asked my kids what courage meant, my oldest said to do something brave. Absolutely. Examples they gave me were to stay in their room by themselves at night. Be nice to someone that nobody wants to play with. Make a new friend. Stand up for someone that other kids are making fun of. Trying your best on a difficult math assignment. Every day courage at its best. This is a great conversation to have with your kids. I really love these conversations when they come unexpectedly. When the neighborhood kids do not want to include someone in their game and your kid steps up and says of course we will include them. Tell your kid that they just showed real courage. That is hard.

How can we practice ordinary courage this year?

Everyday, ordinary courage to me is…

The courage to have a hard conversation and tell my husband how I am really feeling.

The courage to patiently wait and be open-minded and non-judgmental so my husband will tell me how he really feels about something.

The courage to find hope again, after something swipes me off my feet unexpectedly on any given day.

The courage to continue writing and putting myself out there for others to read, because I enjoy it regardless of what others think.

The courage to try something new this year for myself and my family.

The courage to dig deep and find compassion and patience for my kids when things seem overwhelming at any time on any day.

The courage to go out of my way to encourage someone else on their journey.

The courage to help the less fortunate when it might be inconvenient for me.

The courage to say something to make someone feel better, when you can tell they are having a rough day.

The courage to say no when it might not be a popular no.

The courage to say yes when it might not be a popular yes.

The courage to be myself when it is uncomfortable or maybe even different from everyone else.

The courage to hear a friends story with understanding and without judgement.

The courage to be kind always, and encourage my kids to do the same.

The courage to love with my whole heart.

The courage to be all in.

The courage to just show up even when I might not want to or may not feel ready.

Regardless of what happens every day, to have the courage at the end of the day to know and believe that I am enough.

I will continue talking about everyday ordinary courage with my kids this month and I will work to practice it myself every day. I tell my kids when they leave our house, just remember who you are and be that.

One of my favorite quotes from Brené Brown…

[blockquote size=”full” align=”left” byline=”Brene Brown, from The Gifts of Imperfection” rating=”0″]Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do[/blockquote]

If you have not read her books, you should.

Enjoy today and Happy New Year!!

Kelley