courage experiment | Marian Buck Murray

A stone with a courage word isolated on a white background

Here’s Part 2 of the Courage Experiment. I’ve got 3 more tips to help you boost your courage. I’m experimenting with these too. I’ll be back to share my results. If you missed part 1, click here.

Expand Your Knowledge – Many times we’re scared of what we don’t know or understand. By increasing your knowledge about a particular area, you will increase your confidence and courage to explore areas you might previously have avoided. You can do this with anything. Your work. Politics. People. Travel. Art. You name it.

Incremental Exposure – Little by little, expose yourself to the thing that you fear. Choose something you really want to experience, but that you’re scared to do. What can you do, what tiny step can you take, that will get you just a little bit closer? And a little closer after that. And even closer?

Enter a state of non-resistance. – Courage can be tough to muster when we’re dreading doing something. Resistance, however, can make something feel so much more challenging. Choose an area where you’re in resistance, and practice letting go of the resistance. See what happens when you accept the challenge, no matter the discomfort, and allow yourself to be present with whatever happens.

Here’s is an update on some results my experiments with the tips from Part 1 of the Courage Experiment. To read that post, click here.

Embracing my Fear — oh, let’s just say, the political scene has been just a tad scary in the last few months. When I get particularly triggered, by that and by anything else going on in my life, I’ve done quite a bit of embracing. Sometimes the embrace turns into a short meditation. Just dropping into this peaceful place allows me to connect with the deeper, more courageous part of my soul, and then I’m back in the game.

Admitting my Fears to a Friend –– Yup, been doing more of this too. It feels good to let go of even more of my long-ago-wired in “all is well” façade. And poof, like magic, giving voice to my fears with a trusted friend, automatically makes them far less scary.

Don’t Engage with Drama — I’ve been catching myself, more and more, each time I dive into the drama of ‘there won’t be enough..” or “It will never work…” Instead, I’ve been creating new visions for myself, and I’ve been practicing engaging with the scenes that feel much better.

To find out how to use EFT Tapping, or Matrix Reimprinting to boost your courage, contact me.

In Courage,

Marian

Do not be afraid to experiment - handwriting on a napkin with a cup of espresso coffee

About a month ago I got the idea for a last minute workshop. It was one of those ideas that felt so important, so urgent, so motivating, that I knew I had to do it.

I was recovering from a very long bout of a persistent cough and general malaise. I needed something to pull me out of my slump.

The Courage Experiment promised just what I needed.

As I mentioned, it was last minute. I was determined to offer the workshop in April, and it turned out that the only feasible date was on a Tuesday evening, immediately following the Easter/Passover Holidays.

And just like that, I was faced with one of my persistent fears:

What if NOBODY shows up?

Ugh. My old insecurities cringing at the sight of that one thought.

And that’s exactly when I knew I had to do it. I had to do it because I was afraid. This is, after all, the Courage Experiment. And because it felt so right, I knew I had the drive to do it, no matter who showed up.

I ended up giving the workshop to a lively group of 3 people. More had signed up, but weren’t able to come. It was a wonderful and powerful workshop, and it felt so good to express our fears and our courage in a such a supportive group. (This too, BTW is an experiment with courage — I’m resisting the urge to tell you that my audience was larger. )

I created a handout for the workshop, full of actionable courage-boosting tips. Here, are three of the tips I’m experimenting with now. I’ll be back soon with Part 2, and more tips. (And, I’ll also share the results from my own experiment.)

1. Embrace Your Fear – Ahh. This one can be tricky, but very powerful. Our fear is usually coming from a much younger place within. Embracing this part of yourself will help you feel more supported. So, next time you’re faced with fear, pause to acknowledge your fear and imagine sending love and compassion to your fear. Sometimes just pausing with this intention is enough to release fear. With practice, it becomes habit.

2. Admit to your Fears with a Friend – It can take a lot of courage to admit we’re afraid. Fear loves to hide in secrecy. Sharing your fears with an understanding friend or counselor will usually help dispel some of the fear. Sometimes it just feels so damn good to get it out into the open!

3. Don’t Engage the Drama– By-pass worst-case scenarios. We never know what’s going to happen, so why imagine the scariest possibilities? Fear feeds on drama, and will multiply the more we engage. Practice stepping away from the drama, and imagining better-feeling scenarios.

Remember, the idea here is to EXPERIMENT with these ideas. Courage needs to be nourished and cultivated in order to truly shine.

Contact me if you’d like to learn how to use EFT Tapping To Boost Your Courage.

In Courage,

Marian

Courage Experiment Part 2

Courage Experiment Part 1