Your #1 problem is not fear
↩️UNFOLLOW University — February 3, 2023
Happy Friday!
I’m hosting a virtual training today so I’m up early to shave & caffeinate. I like to start discussions with a pop quiz so here’s one for you.
What’s the opposite of courage?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that courage is the opposite of fear. This is false. The opposite of courage is conformity.
Courage says: “I will act on what I believe despite the cost.”
Conformity replies: “I will act as they believe because it might cost.”
Courage is not scarce, courageous leaders are. And a lack of it keeps us from loving, living and being what we’re created for. Figuratively and literally, courage heals and conformity kills.
🤯 Radical Truth
Fear is not our problem.
In its simplest form, fear is a natural reaction to risks, threats and uncertainty. It’s our response to fear that paves one of two paths:
We conform. We allow someone else to shape our actions by rejecting our own truth. “Conform” means to “take something and form it like another” so they can be alike.
We transform. We allow truth to shape our actions by accepting our own. “Transform” means to “change the form of something” so it can be new.
Conformity is helpful when success depends on sameness - like bricks for a building. But it’s harmful when applied to entire groups of human beings.
Our lives were never meant to take the shape of someone else’s. Conformity requires winning the wrong battles by sacrificing the right ones.
Courage invites us to pick a better battle.
⚡️Courageous Question
What could a more courageous version of me do this week that would make a difference 1 year from now?
🗣 Wonderful Words
“The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself.”
-Rita Mae Brown
🙏🏽 Prayer Package
Lord, where I’m weak, show me new ways to work that honor your design for my life. I’m grateful you don’t need to remove my fear in order to reveal your plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
🎵Reach by DOE
🛠 Practical Tool
Learn about the 4 responses to fear as a leader and how to take responsibility for results by being risk-intelligent.
[Source: Grace LaConte]
Thanks for reading. If you missed last week’s newsletter you can find it here.
See you next UNFOLLOW Friday!
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Every Friday I’ll send you 5 courageous ideas to help you redesign your work life by making better career decisions:
🤯 Radical Truth - A story from me
⚡️ Courageous Question - A challenge for you
🗣 Wonderful Words - A quote worth remembering
🙏🏽 Prayer Package - A moment of meditation
🛠 Practical Tool - An actionable resource
