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| Greetings!
I celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago. I'm not going to disclose how many I've celebrated, but I can tell you that I've loved every one of them. Maybe it's because I love having family and friends call and sing to me. Maybe it's because I love the anticipation of the year ahead. Or maybe, as I'm sure my younger brother would attest to, it's just because I love being the center of attention.
And then of course, there are the presents. Remember waking up on your birthday when you were a kid? You had no idea how the day was going to turn out, but you were pretty darn certain there would be presents to open by the time you went to bed that night. What would you get? Something you had wished for or complete surprises? It didn't much matter, it would all be good and a lot of what made the day special was anticipation of the unknown.
Here's a news flash - this description of presents is a pretty accurate description of fear as well. Fear is also the anticipation of an unknown, but with a twist. It causes us to believe that whatever that unknown is, it will be bad. And the more we focus on it, the larger our fear grows. Fear is a paralyzing wall that can keep us from experiencing the joys and goals of our lives.
But just like fire can burn or warm us, and knives can cut or protect us, fear can be a damaging or useful tool as well. Helen Keller said, "We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world." Likewise, we could never experience courage if we didn't have a fear to overcome. Consequently, I don't believe courage is the lack of fear, but rather the presence of it.
Long ago, I began thinking of my fears as opportunities. I'm not foolhardy; I wouldn't walk in front of a train or jump off a cliff. But I do try to be more realistic in analyzing my fears. As many of you have heard me say, I always ask myself, "What's the worst that could happen?" If I can't come up with an answer of life or death proportions, I frequently forge ahead. And more often than not, taking the chance has proven to be a real blessing.
So here's your assignment: the next time fear stops you, imagine it as a present, all wrapped up and tied with a bow. You don't know what's inside. It could be bad, but it could also be really, really good. And you'll never know till you open it. | |
Sincerely,
Judy Pearson
www.judithlpearson.com |
| Where's Judy? |
 In Boston - pictured here with 2 of my 2,000 new friends at the Best Buy Coporation's WOLF forum. And I can tell you, a good time was had by all!
I'd love to share the Power of Courage with your group or company. Give me a call and lets talk about it! |
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Call to Courage
During the Revolutionary War, women did their part with boycotts, sabotage, and support of the troops. Some took to the battlefield as well. In October 1778, Deborah Samson, disguised as a young man named Robert Shirtliffe, presented herself to the American army as a willing volunteer to oppose the common enemy.
She fought courageously the whole term of the war, wounded twice - the first time cut by a sword on the side of the head and four months later, shot through the shoulder. Her gender went undetected until she came down with a brain fever.
After the war, she was one of the first women to receive a veteran's pension, thanks in part to the efforts of Paul Revere. | |
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