When you think of the word "brave," what comes to mind?
For me, it used to evoke images of battlefields and facing tough challenges head-on. For the longest time, I didn’t think of myself as brave at all—it felt out of reach, like something reserved for others.
But now? Now, I see myself not just as brave but as a full-fledged warrior, complete with badges of honour and, dare I say it, a cape. Yes, definitely a cape!
Being brave isn’t what I once thought it was. It’s not about going to war or charging at life’s difficulties. It’s about something far deeper—it’s about understanding.
When you tell yourself, “I need to be brave,” you're actually responding to how you've perceived the situation, not the situation itself. That’s why some people face challenges without blinking, others approach with caution, and some might run for cover. We each interpret life uniquely, shaped by our internal worlds.
Bravery isn’t about “overcoming” something. It’s about recognising your emotional reactions and using that awareness to make empowered decisions.
Take the idea of going live on Facebook in my business, for example. In the past, I avoided it. I concocted excuses like, “I can’t go live because the kids might interrupt,” but deep down, I knew it was nonsense. I created that narrative to mask the overwhelming feeling of Oh. My. God. every time I even considered pressing the ‘Go Live’ button.
I clung to that excuse for ages, knowing full well I was lying to myself. A part of me bought it, while another part—the one rolling its eyes—knew better. But eventually, I started going live, even though my hands would still shake every time.
It was clear I had built an entire life experience around my perception of going live. My internal dialogue went something like this: I’m perfectly fine writing blogs—I love it, actually. It’s my daily ritual: coffee in hand, laptop ready, and I write whatever comes to mind. It feels emotionally safe.
But going live on Facebook? What if I freeze? What if I run out of things to say? What if someone asks a question I can’t answer? What if people laugh? What if I don’t make sense?
That, on the other hand, was not emotionally safe.
You see where I’m going with this, don’t you? The more I told myself that I was choosing not to go live (for the good of everyone, no less!), the bigger and scarier the idea became. Before I knew it, I’d turned this tiny spark of fear into a towering mountain.
Then one day, the eye-rolling part of me took control for a moment and gave me a stern talking to.
It wasn’t fear. It was just that going live wasn’t normal for me yet. My perception was stuck in the past—the first time I went live, it was a disaster. So, my story became: If I go live, it’ll be another disaster.
I didn’t need to be “brave” in the traditional sense. What I really needed was to take a moment to understand where this story had come from—my past. And naturally, when you push against a long-held narrative, there’s bound to be a little friction until the new action becomes the norm.
Now, my unconscious mind is completely at ease with going live because I’ve done it, tried it, and created a new memory. The outcome is no longer rooted in fear, but in confidence.
Being brave is simply recognising that your emotions reflect your current perception and deciding to either push forward, knowing it might be uncomfortable at first, or retreat and stay within the limited space of your past experiences.
Tons of love,
Leanne
I love the way you used speaking live. So many people will resonate with this, and your explanation will give them the understanding of how to help themselves xx