when my brave heart speaks
One of the coolest things I have learned from Brené Brown’s research (and there are MANY) is the original Latin definition of the word courage; “to speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart”. I wrote specifically about what courage means to me in a blog post last year (you can read that here) and this definition of courage has become a central tenet in my own life. I sincerely believe that being true to ourselves is the hardest and bravest thing we can do every day and living a heart-centered life is what brings meaning to the years we are given.
I recently wrote a post about “staying” with what is true in our lives, both beautiful and challenging, and much of my 2018 was focused on learning from what happens when you don’t rush to fill the holes or file down the sharp edges that come with our real lives. It took incredible effort against a lifetime of emotional conditioning to not immediately look for a new beginning when something wonderful or difficult came to an end. It was absolutely worth the effort to “stay”. More to say on that when I am ready to wrap words around it.
Today, I want to share the biggest lesson I took from the combination of being brave and staying with what felt most real about my life; the practice of living in alignment with what really matters to me is the absolute foundation of everything else. It’s not selfish (the message that nips at my heels whenever I’m focused on my own priorities) and it’s not optional because it is worth the effort to sustain and grow what I love.
My life has asked a lot of me and, as a result, I’m already really good at this when the chips are down. My practice needs continued focus in the “everyday” when the chips are scattered all over the place. Being truly brave each day eventually adds up to a lifetime of making conscious choices rooted in what I value and what feels like “me”. Yes, please!
What does that look like? Paying closer attention to my own wellbeing and staying curious about the habits that knock me out of alignment. Giving myself the space to make choices that keep me in my integrity when presented with new opportunities or challenges. Being OK with my choices sometimes making things harder. Risking that sometimes people may not understand. Believing that being true to myself is how I will make my greatest contributions to others.
So, after a season of staying and the revelations that offered, I know that I am at my most centered and whole when I choose alignment as often as possible, on purpose, and out loud. Alignment of my energy with my values. Alignment of my efforts with my talents. Alignment of my voice with my convictions. I am on the path to greater meaning and impact when my everyday life speaks the brave truth of my heart.
What truth does your heart want to tell about you?