You remember back in your rapscallion youth if you wanted to create some high jinks you'd double dare your pals to do so some outrageously dodgy deed? With the gauntlet (or hand-knit mitten) thrown down you or your friends would be compelled to follow through the dare or face the consequences of the "cowardly custard" chant evermore.

 

Now I don't recommend "double daring" or any other "do or die" approach as a motivational means. But there is something to be said about forcing ourselves out of the comfort zone and, within reason, throwing caution to the wind and jumping into the circle of fear.

 

It doesn't even have to be the big scary stuff like climbing K2 in stilettos, cycling across the polar caps in a bikini or asking Simon Cowell to pull his trousers up. Quite often it's the day to day dragons we have to slay, chasms we have to leap over, creaky rope bridges slung over gaping ravines we have to tread.

 

Like asking the boss for a rise, informing a friend that their behavior to you has been abusive or the really terrifying challenge of all - daring to ask yourself "is this making me happy?"

 

Brave hearts, crusaders, all-action heroes and Indiana Jones' are not those adrenalin junkies who want to quad bike, bungee or parachute jump to prove their courage but people who want to get rid of duplicity, start leading authentic lives and to stop living with excuses and regrets.

 

As a coach I have done a lot of work on myself over the years to overcome my own daleks and demons. Such as putting in extreme amounts of time and effort to overcome my fear of public speaking. Four coaches, hypnotherapy, EFT, lessons and six sessions with an actress means I have ditched the jelly knees and wobble voice and have a workable style now.

 

Gibbering with fear I have made myself phone newspaper editors (yes including Piers Morgan when he was on the Mirror) to get a column, fronted networking groups and created new business angles - all of which took my nerve to the edge. Now I find myself in the peculiar predicament of having very little to be truly scared of.

 

Oh OK, actually there is something I am a lighter shade of yellow about and that's vulnerability. I have a big dream I am trying to build. It's something along the lines of being a UK Oprah and even typing this makes me feel like I've taken my stabilizers of life off to share this with you.

 

Being vulnerable means trusting and believing in something even when we can't be sure of an outcome.   I don't know if my dream to get coaching on TV to the masses will ever come off and if I start thinking "who am I to do this?" I feel my courage order the bill and skedaddle in the first cab available.

 

But for me the definition of courage is to do something without a guarantee, to risk it anyway even if the investment is time, energy and even loss of face and faith.  

Yes, it's scary but what's the option? To not do it? Live with regret? Not if I can help it.

 

Here are some thoughts I have put together for those worried about risk and who feel stuck in their lives

• To be courageous is to take a risk
• What if you were good enough after all?
• Dare to challenge your inner critic - there is no more caustic voice than your own
• Replace over-analysing with benign curiosity
• Some opportunities only come along once - seize them
• Ditch approval
• Taking risks makes you authentic
• What have you really got to lose?
• Never give up
• "The trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more" - Erica Jong
• "The secret of happiness is freedom and the secret of freedom is courage" - Thucydides 400BC

If any of this speak to you then do take me up on my offer of a 30 minute free trial session. Email me now caroleann@realcoachingco.com