Pulling weeds for good things to grow.
In my book, Learning to Roar, I invite the reader to do some gardening from within. Whether we choose to accept it or not, there’s always potential for weeds to pop up when we get hurt, disappointed, offended, or even fall flat on our faces. How we choose to manage our garden will usually be exposed over time. Will we become manicured and fertile? Allowing good things to grow and bloom. Or, will we become unkept and unruly? Like an overgrown jungle.
Yes, managing ourselves is a lot like gardening. And no matter what Courage Persona we identify with we all have potential weeds that might need to be pulled as we choose to cultivate courage in our everyday ordinary lives.
I commit a whole chapter to discovering your natural Courage Persona in my book, Learning to Roar. I also provide a resource chapter dedicated to helping you cultivate that persona. Discovering what attribute of courage we possess naturally and how to develop ourselves in that area; is key to our personal growth. I’ve found it also helpful to know areas where I struggle to be courageous the most. Working with both our strengths and weaknesses is how we learn to tend our gardens well. Here’s a an excerpt from Chapter Five, Learning to Roar.
Remember, the whole point of this book is to get you feeling a little uncomfortable; that's the seed of courage germinating within you.
Your job right now is to allow it to grow. I want to encourage you to commit to proceeding, no matter how uncomfortable it gets, especially if your go-to ointment is typically shame, guilt, or introversion. The shame, the guilt, the withdrawal—those are weeds. Don’t allow them to take root. Instead of letting them grow deeper, it’s time to start pulling.
Stretch Persona: She lengthens her stride beyond her comfort zone.
Potential Weeds: Preferring that others downsize their lives to make you feel comfortable. Believing a small life is all that God intended for you, and everyone else. Refusing to show the people around you that you care about them by taking action with them in the things where they experience delight and fulfillment because you will be uncomfortable.
Perseverance Persona: She’s no quitter.
Potential Weeds: Believing you’re the only one who’s ever had it tough. Refusing to take the initiative—especially where an apology or admission that you did not give your best effort is concerned. Waiting to start and/or continue until conditions are optimal for your success. Indulging in self-pity and empathy to the point of inaction.
Fearless Persona: She has tamed her fears.
Potential Weeds: Using your fear to control and manipulate others for your comfort. Wearing your fear as a badge of honor. Taking pride in labeling your fear and committing to live in it as a means to avoid change or growth.
Patience Persona: She understands pain has a purpose.
Potential Weeds: Denying that you are in pain and need help and/or that you have used a short cut—like self-medicating—to avoid experiencing your pain. Skipping processes which are designed to bring about a purpose from the pain. Habitually taking short cuts and developing a “one and done” way of living.
Advocate Persona: She’s a skilled fighter.
Potential Weeds: Fear of conflict. Fear of breaking rules. We live in a society governed by rules, roles, and responsibilities. But those things can easily become crutches we lean on to avoid stepping into a problem that’s not ours. That fear is a weed trying to choke our humanitarian responsibility and civic duty. Here’s a test: if it was happening to you, would you hope for someone to step in?
Inspiration Persona: Her passion is attractive.
Potential Weeds: If you are stuck in the habit of pursuing fulfillment by getting something from the world instead of being fulfilled by producing something for the world—you have a weed that needs pulling. You were created to make and do and throw off seeds when you mature. When you are not living with purpose, you will most certainly become discouraged.
Hope Persona: She knows how to wait.
Potential Weeds: Complaining. If you struggle with patience, what that means is that you can't suffer—or be uncomfortable— without complaining. Vocalizing your suffering constantly will give it more territory in the soil of your life. Just as waiting is hard for everyone, so is suffering.
I encourage you to take the Courage Persona Discovery QUIZ, and seek ways to develop your natural courage. My book will help you self identify areas that need weeding, where you’re strong and healthy, and ways to cultivate your courage in everyday life.
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