Courage is something that everybody wants — an attribute of good character that makes us worthy of respect. From the Bible to fairy tales; ancient myths to Hollywood movies,our culture is rich with exemplary tales of bravery and self-sacrifice for the greater good. From the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz who finds the courage to face the witch, to David battling Goliath in the Bible, to Star Wars and Harry Potter, children are raised on a diet of heroic and inspirational tales(Dr. Melanie Greenburg). So, where do we begin?

1. Courage To Change – It has been said that until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change, nothing ever changes. At some point you must decide that your fullest potential is not being reached. At that moment you must have the courage to face this reality and then begin to act! In order to go where God is calling you, you cannot remain the same – you must leave something behind!
2. Commitment To Change – “It takes courage … to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.” ― Marianne Williamson. There is a maxim of leadership that states you cannot lead anyone past your own thinking! You need to marshall your finest resources together and commit to a new version of yourself. Allow the old version of yourself to die.
3. Capabilities – You must know yourself in order to grow yourself! When was the last time that you used a psychometric tool such as Myers/Briggs, Birkman, or D.I.S.C. to gain understanding into your unique design. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your comprehensions of this design will allow you to act and decide with clarity. You effectively increase your over all skill level by understanding a clearer version of yourself. In addition to self-comprehensions, there are tines that you must grow your skill capability through advanced learning. Allow others to speak into your life through seminars, classes, executive coaching, etc..
4. Confidence In The Change – When you realize the improvement that has been accomplished by means of the first three steps – a new found confidence occurs. You realize a new sense of confidence that challenges you to even greater heights of accomplishment. Remember that the road of success and the road of failure are one and the same. Success just happens to be a little further down the road.

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