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Emotional Courage is internal bravery - the willingness to feel- even uncomfortable feelings and act in accordance with what you truly want and need.
That moment when you hesitate.
We know we want to do something, we know we can do it, we have the capability to do it - but we do not follow through with it because somewhere we do not want to feel something. Uncomfortable, vulnerable, weak, tired, sad, lonely, guilty - it could be anything...we do not want to feel that. We lack emotional courage and THAT stops us from taking the action.
We therefore give up on opportunities, pass on presenting to the senior leadership, don't speak up in meetings, give up on a promotions, fail to take tough decisions at work, are unable to fire a bad employee etc.
Leaders have to make tough decisions all the time and have to be confident in their decisions. Emotional courage is a key component of being able to BE decisive and powerful and to follow through with conviction. It is the driving force behind any accomplishment. A key distinction here is that a willingness to feel our emotions is NOT the same as expressing them, nor is it the same as doing something about them.
Once we have FELT and understood what that feeling is - then we can make informed decisions about what needs to be done. The action or behaviour based on that feeling can be strategic and intentional towards what outcome/goal we really want.
How do you confront and navigate difficult emotions, situations, or conversations with honesty, vulnerability, and authenticity?
Emotional courage is risky. It means having difficult conversations, addressing conflicts, expressing needs and boundaries, and sharing one's true thoughts and feelings. It can feel very uncomfortable and scary.
This does not mean that you become reckless and impulsive with your emotions under the garb of 'Emotional Courage'. Real Emotional courage means approaching emotions with mindfulness, self-compassion, and a willingness to engage in the process of emotional growth and understanding. The deeper work involves confronting past traumas, confronting fears and working through the hard feelings to move forward with more clarity and freedom.
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