Bravery isn’t just about donning a suit of armour and heading into battle or saving someone from a burning building. Bravery is also about pushing yourself to do the small, every day stuff. The stuff that scares you.
Just earlier today I saw someone on Twitter say she wanted to write a certain type of blog post but was worried about how the Internet would take it. As if the Internet is this giant ugly bully just waiting to steal your lunch money and push you into puddles. Ok, parts of it is. I know that being courageous, brave and basically giving a piece of yourself over to the world – to be judged, commented on or even ignored - isn’t easy. But it is important.
You can’t sit at home surrounded by wonderful things that you have created, amazing ideas that never see it further than scribbles on a notepad by your bed, or exciting projects that won’t come to fruition because of all the ‘what if’s’ swimming around your mind.
Imagine what this planet would be like if those people who’ve gone on to achieve incredible things decided never to bother or push themselves, because it was ‘easier’ that way.
The ironic thing is that it’s not easier, not in the long term. You can ignore it for as long as possible but you’re only lying to yourself and hiding your true amazing potential, which is never going to end well. Being brave can feel uncomfortable, nerve-wracking and fill you with complete self-doubt. But it can also make you feel invincible and glowing with pride at the fact you had the courage to do it in the first place.
Sometimes you have to switch off, step out of your comfort zone, throw caution to the wind and stick two fingers up to the fear of the unknown.
There’s loads of things I’m scared of. Tons. From starting a conversation with a stranger, to stepping in front of the camera to vlog, to going to networking events on my own and even speaking my mind about the things that I’m not happy with. Why does complaining about shoddy service just fill me with such dread?!
But then I think, well, how is this going to benefit me (or even future me) if I don’t do it?
So yes, when my diary clears I will be vlogging, I will be the first on the dance floor at my brother’s wedding in a few weeks not caring if my dance moves are ridiculous, and I will even pluck up the courage to politely tell the rude woman in the local shop that she needs to have a word with her attitude.
Probably the biggest thing I fear is putting myself and my work out there, I guess every author must know this stomach clenching sickness (less than 6 weeks to go until Destination India is out – eeek!), but you can only trust that you’ve done your very best and believe that it will all be ok. This is the one thing that goes hand in hand with being brave - having that belief that it will all be ok, eventually.
And do you know what, I bet you that this time next year you’ll wonder what you’d been so scared about.
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