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Dear Brave Readers,

Saying YES often starts with NO.

Have you ever considered how many times you say NO to your dreams, instead of YES? Can you imagine something you really want to do, Right NOW and you can already hear the doubts, worries and fears, talking you out of Taking Action. You’re not alone. Basically your fears have the edge on making you stop and reconsider. We all have a long list of reasons.

A few?

“I’m not good enough”

“I’m not smart enough“

“I’m not ready“

“Is this the wrong choice?”

“I’m too old. I’m too young“

“What was I thinking anyway?“

“There’s not enough time!”

But here’s a hint:

Becoming Brave Changes All of Those Words

Bravery is the answer to your success, your dreams and your happiness. No question, whatever you really want to do and whoever you really want to be, BRAVERY is here to save the day!

I know. Because I almost talked myself out of my own Big Brave Adventure. It was a life changing experience. I almost missed it.

It happened when I decided to step up and ask myself,

“What would I do if I were brave?”

I couldn’t wait for the answer to arrive. And just like that it did.

My 24-year-old son called and said, “Hey mom. Want to go on a 6-week camping road trip out west and stay in my 3 man tent, in the middle of nowhere, “Absolutely NOT,” was my firm answer. “I’ve never camped in my life.”  And then of course, after a lot of thinking and worrying, and wondering why this had to be my brave test, I said, YES!!!  The result? 6 weeks coming face to face with fear and my desire to be brave.

I had endless opportunities to listen to the constant conversation in my mind. It was clear that fear was happy to be the driver of my experience. Looking back, I realized that every time I considered the exciting question, “What’s Next?”

Fear was giving me Bad Advice. 

I often heard things like:

“Life is okay AS IS”

“Why take chances that would be embarrassing?”

“Don’t do anything embarrassing”

“Let’s wait!”

“Not now (Insert Scared Face).”

I was giving myself bad advice. Fear was saying no. And on my road trip out west, I heard the same. But now? I had activated my bravery.  I found a new voice. And it was right. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss a thing that I experienced.  I didn’t need to overthink the direction of my life.  I just wanted to be brave.  Bravery felt good. And brave action was aligned with what mattered most to be. 

Bravery was the answer I’d been looking for!

From then on it was my GPS for living everyday as an adventure in being who I wanted to be.

It all started with the question,

“What would you do if you were BRAVE?”

And it ended with the solution,

Say YES!!!

I learned that I was an experienced overthinker. But that had an easy fix. I needed to create space to feel first and think second. Checking in with my emotions before I talked myself out of everything I really wanted to do, turned off all those “auto pilot” NO’s.  And that made it easier to think new, clear thoughts that were a match, aligned with my true self.  

Of course all those NO’s came directly from FEAR. And once I woke up and realized who was behind the wheel, directing my future, I knew something had to change. 

Becoming brave was the answer for me.

Until next time,

Your Coach and Travel Guide,

Sandy