What does “Brave” mean to you?

Georgia O’Keefe painting of Lake George

I’ve been thinking a lot about the word brave recently, as I create the concept and content for my new online coaching circle for women called The Brave Room.

When I was little, I associated “brave” with The Hero.  The Lone Ranger and Tonto. Warriors. Astronauts.  

This model of bravery – physical daring, little or no fear – was really lacking in relevance to my day to day life.  I didn’t feel like it had a lot to do with my world.

Fortunately, as a child I read voraciously, and I started to accumulate heroines who showed me a kind of Brave that I could relate to.  I loved Nancy Drew.  Harriet the Spy.  Biographies of Joan of Arc and Florence Nightingale.  Rosa Parks.  Georgia O’Keefe.  Frida Kahlo. Eleanor Roosevelt. Simone de Beauvoir.

Brave women heroines.  The women who went their own way.  Who felt the fear and did it anyway.  Who broke the mold.  Who dared to be themselves. Who spoke truth to power.

Always for a purpose. Always values led. Taking a risk to stay in right relationship — with themselves, with family, with community, with the world beyond themselves.

Now in mid-life brave feels more relevant than ever. Navigating transitions, evolving identity, navigating a world that can feel strange and scary. My definition of brave now would be something like, feeling afraid but doing it anyway because it is something that you deeply believe in.  Being vulnerable.  Daring to really want something or someone.  Risking heartbreak or rejection.  Giving up a place of safety. Persisting through failure and difficulty.  Being able to stay in a place of discomfort instead of running. Knowing when it is time to relinquish control or walk away.  Showing your real self instead of who you think someone wants you to be.  Admitting to yourself and others what you deeply desire.  Sacrificing for the greater good. 

What’s your definition?  Who are your Brave S/heroes?

I am creating The Brave Room coaching circle and community for us to have a safe, supportive space to explore our own personal definitions of brave.  What’s worth being brave for?  What brave spaces are we yearning to adventure in to?  What kind of brave do we want to become?

What’s your BRAVE? 

If you’d like to join us, you can become a founding member of The Brave Room for just $97 for unlimited access 1 October – 31 December.  You’ll get access to two live coaching sessions per week (Fridays at midday and Sundays at 2 pm), worksheets and reflection activities, and our private online community.  You will also have access to the ThinkFRESH app during beta testing.  Sign up at www.thinkfresh.nz/the-brave-room.

If you’d like to know more, you can register for the free Opening Night Webinar on 1 October at 7 pm here.