One of my favorite speeches on courage is by Teddy Roosevelt given in Paris, France, in April 1910. He said it is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or how the doer of deeds could have done better. Rather, what counts is the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again. Roosevelt believed that there is no effort without errors and shortcomings, and that those who actually strive to do the deeds will know great enthusiasm, great devotions, and will be one who spends himself in a worthy cause. Such a one will most likely know the triumph of high achievement in the end, but if he fails, he will have done so, at the very least, while daring greatly. I find this to be an amazing perspective on courage. 

Embrace Your Passion and Purpose

It requires so much vulnerability to stand out on a ledge and take a risk, to take a leap of faith to pursue our passions and inner calling.  I felt called to take such a leap myself in 2008 when I knew it was time for me to leave a business partnership. Even though it had been successful, I just had visions of wanting to do things a little bit differently and pursue my own path. I started HS International, an accounting and finance recruitment company. That decision was a defining moment for me as one of my most courageous leaps of faith. And yet, after a year and a half, I still knew there was something missing from my life.  

Listen to Your Inner Voice

I started to meditate and tune into a deeper wisdom within myself that I didn’t even know existed before then. With my heart beating, I took another leap. My intuition urged me to look into the mining sector in late 2009, and I listened. I felt called to go to the First Society of Mining Engineering meeting. I let my curiosity guide me. I had to follow that voice that kept telling me to go investigate mining. I felt terrified. I didn’t know anything about mining. My only experience with mining was that in the previous year, while running my accounting recruitment company, I had placed a couple of accountants in positions in the mining industry. We may feel a bit lost and alone when we step out onto that ledge, or into an arena, but as Ted Roosevelt espouses, we really are not entirely alone when we embrace those frightening but courageous moments in our lives. 

Divine Support

What if there is an unseen force that comes to our aid when we have the courage to listen to that calling that is within us. Some callings come in whispers expressed perhaps as curiosity to explore something, or just a feeling of possibility. In my experience, this unseen force, that I call God the Divine, came to my aid. As I look back on those moments of courage, they were really moments of magic. I was not indeed alone as I had thought I was, because I was following my bliss, as Joseph Campbell would say. The late Joseph Campbell says that when we follow our bliss where there were once walls, doors will now be there instead. Having experienced that myself, I wanted to start the podcast of the View Beyond the Ordinary. I wanted to explore this phenomenon with other people who have also courageously stepped out onto that ledge, or into that arena, in pursuit of their dream or calling. I wanted to see what synchronicities we shared. Did they have similar experiences? Did they feel support from a previously unknown force? 

I have found through a series of interviews over the last couple of years that others do indeed feel an amazing support behind the scenes when we listen to that calling and take a leap of faith. The first step is being true to ourselves by letting go of comparing ourselves to others. We get to know ourselves the deepest when we take risks into the unknown. It gives us a deeper understanding of who we really are and what our motivations are. We find that we are not falling into an abyss, but we are helped and supported along the way. It may not be easy, but I have found that just the journey of pursuing bliss is really the joy itself. It felt like my heart expanded back in that year that I listened to my intuition and followed my heart in the mining industry, and so my joy expanded as well.

Step Out of Your Comfort Support

Following your bliss doesn’t mean we aren’t going to run into challenges. Roosevelt says it takes blood and sweat. We are going to fail along the way and when we do, it’s difficult not to judge and criticize ourselves. Often it’s easier to applaud others who take risks, but we need to remember to applaud our own progress along the way. Imagine how dull our world would be in people didn’t pursue the calling of their dreams and hearts. Think of the world without the art and beauty that we have around us, or the intellect and knowledge leading to scientific and technological inventions. All of those things took courage. Publishing a book, writing a play, designing a building or so many other creative acts and journeys requires stepping out and being vulnerable. 

Embrace the criticism along the way. It’s how we get better. The more that we practice our skills, our crafts, our pursuits, the better we’re going to get. Now when I run into challenges, not only have I learned to embrace them, but to also appreciate them. I understand how they are helping me grow and expand. And when I fall down, I find a new way to get up and try a different approach. It’s our stumbles that teach us how to learn new skills and to become stronger.

Courage is a trait that I admire greatly. I love to muster up my own courage when I need to, when I am taking a leap of faith, especially when I’m doing something new. Maya Angelo tells us that courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage, you cannot practice any other virtue consistently. We have to be willing to look into our own hearts, and sometimes it takes courage to hear what they’re telling us. Sometimes, we may just need to listen, to stop and pause for a bit. It may mean not acting yet at all. Courage also requires great vulnerability.

Dare Greatly

Author and inspirational speaker Brene Brown bases her book Daring Greatly on Roosevelt’s speech. Brown helps us see that we must ignore those naysayers. Unless they’re in the arena with you, who are they to judge your efforts, your errors, your decisions, and pursuits? We must applaud each other, applaud others and ourselves for making the effort and taking the risk. 

For those of you that are already boldly going out in the direction of your dreams and being true to yourself, thank you. Thank you for what you do to inspire the rest of us.  

I wish you much joy and fulfillment in your path ahead. 

Joline Lenz is an entrepreneur, transformational guide, talent advisor, and co-author of Inspiration at Work, she helps others elevate, envision, and empower courage, connection, and creativity. Joline built a successful 25-year recruitment and entrepreneurial career and has launched a few boutique firms, and worked for organizations such as Ajilon and Northrup Grumman. Because of her extensive experience, she understands the challenges and frustrations of professionals who are seeking a career or job change that inspires them.  “Follow Your Bliss” is her motto!

Be sure to sign up for one of Joline’s jobseeker webinars at jolinelenz.com/webinars or additional information at  jolinelenz.com.