"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you're scared." -- Eddie Rickenbacker

Alive & Well Archives

January 2001

****************************************************

TODAY'S QUOTE: Feel the fear and do it anyway.

                                                    -Susan Jeffers

****************************************************

TODAY'S TOPIC: Courage

A few weeks ago, I went to church and heard a song that really inspired me.  I don't remember much of the song, but the words from the chorus hit home.  The words were, "What would you do if you were brave?" Hearing these words got my brain churning. What would I do if I were brave? Immediately, a whole list started forming in my head.

Of course, a list is not enough. I had to take action. In all honesty, I have not done everything on that list. However, I did get the courage to join a floor hockey team, which was something I've wanted to do but previously had lacked the courage to do. 

For some of you, joining a floor hockey team may not have taken courage.  But it did for me. I have not been on a competitive sports team since high school. I don’t consider myself a star athlete, so being on a competitive team makes me anxious. I have never seen floor hockey played, let alone actually played it myself. Also, I was intimidated to meet new people and start playing as a team with them. Yet hearing those words -- "What would you do if you were brave?" -- propelled me to join the team.

On the night of our first game, I went to the recreation center to watch other games played before my game. This was the first time I had ever seen floor hockey played. As I watched, a player got injured and was down on the floor. After twenty minutes, the paramedics came and took him away on a stretcher. At that moment I was thinking, "Forget bravery. I'm outta

here." But I knew that if I could feel the fear and do it anyway, I would have a great time.

Sure enough, I stayed for the game. I met my new teammates and started to play as if I had been playing the game for years. It was a blast! I met new people and got a fantastic workout. After the game, I felt incredibly alive and energized. I can't remember the last time I felt so alive and encouraged. My body ached for three days after our game from the bruises and sore muscles. Nonetheless, I look forward to my next game, and I'm excited to get to know my teammates.

You see, I looked fear in the face. I did something I was afraid to do before, and the outcome was fantastic! How about you? What would you do if you were brave?

*****************************************************

Coaching Challenge

*****************************************************

1) Write a list of everything you would do if you were brave. Perhaps you would call that woman you secretly like. Perhaps you would make the dreaded phone call to your difficult client. Perhaps, like me, you would sign up for a team sport or join some other group. What would you do if you were brave?

2) Once you've completed that list, do at least one thing on it.