I was at least 4-6 inches taller than most of boys and girls in my class, and I wore big glasses. I was definitely awkward and often shied away from doing anything that bought too much direct attention to me, in fear of what others may think.
We can see from the story how the Cowardly Lion allowed fear to hold him captive. He physically shrank in the presence of potential danger, and walked around with his tail tucked and head down. He did not understand that courage means acting in the presence of fear.
One of the most powerful lessons I learned about courage happened at the end of my first year of graduate school at Virginia Tech. I was called to the Program Chair’s office and informed that I had failed the Ph.D. qualifying exam. I remember thinking, “What? You must be mistaken! This must be a dream!”
Well, it wasn’t a dream, and he had not made a mistake. As he went on to tell me the specifics about my performance, the tears began to well up in the corners of my eyes. Before I knew it, I was in a full-on cry. I had never failed anything of this magnitude in my life. The emotions overtook me as I sat in that chair. He reached over, handed me some tissue and closed the door and blinds to let me have my moment. When failure comes, it can shake you, embrace the feeling for the moment, but don’t stay there.
The Program Chair went on to tell me my options: (1) opt out of the Ph.D. program and get a Master’s degree, (2) leave, or (3) retake the exam in the Fall and hope to pass. I already had one Master’s degree, so getting a second in the same discipline didn’t really make sense to me. And, leaving – well, that was never an option.
I quickly dried my face, got my composure and boldly said, “I will retake it in the Fall and pass.” My sole purpose of being there was to get a Ph.D., so leaving with anything else without exhausting all possible options would have been the true failure. In order to have courage after failure, you must have a vision to move forward, otherwise you’ll quit too soon.
Do you have courage, or are you like the Cowardly Lion looking for some magical fix? There is no elixir to muster up courage when you’re filled with fear wondering if your situation will somehow work itself out. The Cowardly Lion went on a journey to obtain his courage, when it was already inside of him. It just needed to be activated. The test is being able to go forward despite how you feel on the inside. Having courage is about
- Fighting through your fears
- Trusting in your ability to overcome
- Staying focused on the big vision
Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” Don’t fall victim to your fears. It’s time to fight, trust, and focus to bring forward the courage that’s on the inside.
Do you have a vision that’s screaming to get out? Join me for the “Empower Your Dream” workshop on July 10, 2023. Your dream has power. It can inspire you. It’s time to empower yourself to pursue it! The “Empower Your Dream” Workshop is based on the book, “Put Your Dream to the Test” by John C. Maxwell. To register visit www.idgvision.com.
IDG Vision Consulting and Training is located in Covington, GA. We help people/organizations get from where they are today (point A) to where they want to be (point B). Whether you are simply looking for motivation to build new skills or a strategic plan for success, we offer one-on-one and group coaching, workshops/seminars, and mastermind group studies to help achieve your goals. Contact us at 770-648-3758 to schedule a free consultation.
Stay Inspired!
Dr. Andrea Bowens-Jones
IDG Vision Consulting & Training – President/CEO
Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, and Trainer
idgvision.com | [email protected]
