Action with Courage
November 5, 2025
Celebrate Courage
November 19, 2025
Courage Looks Different on Everyone
Courage can only be measured from within as it varies from person to person and from time to time in your life. In movies, acts of courage are accompanied by an urgent soundtrack that lets you know the main character is about to do something hard. In real life no one is giving you, or anyone else, a heads up. Something that is hard for you may be easy for someone else. Behavior can show, or mask, courage. Only you know the effort needed to take action during your liminal journey. Give yourself full credit for what you do. Give others credit when they share their struggles. Whether you can see them or not, acts of courage happen all around you every day.
Courage is Individual
Different people find things hard based on their experience, life history, and temperament. If you have no experience in an area, it will likely take you more courage than someone who has been doing it for a while. If you have anxiety, or have had a traumatic experience, there will be tasks that are much harder for you. Courage shifts over time. What once felt impossible can become routine. What once was effortless can become daunting as your body, energy, and relationships change. Liminal times may include changes in how you experience risk. Courage is not measured by what you are doing, but how you are feeling about what you are doing.
Appearances May Vary
You might be visibly nervous when doing something hard, while another person may only be able to step forward after closing off their feelings, so they appear calm. Some of this is dependent on the situation as well. In a safe relationship you may cry as you use your courage to share hard truths. In a less safe place, your courage may include armoring yourself with a harsh tone and abrupt answer. At times what looks like nervousness might really be a sign that you are tired or distracted. Only by asking “how am I really feeling?” can you identify what emotions are underlying your actions.
Courage and Energy Levels
Courage takes energy. If you are already tired, it is hard to pull yourself together to do hard things. You may not be able to step up if you are exhausted. Constantly doing hard things drains your energy. It takes courage to keep going when you are in a hard stage of life. Taking breaks or getting help is so very important during liminal times to maintain your well–being. Liminal times bring change and uncertainty. Recharging your energy is necessary to have the courage needed to look clearly at your options, run experiments in your life, and take action.
Outside of a movie there is no way to know that courage is behind an action unless someone says so. What takes a lot of courage varies from person to person based on their experience. Behavior is often not a good indicator of your internal state. Using courage requires energy, and over time, saps energy. When you do something hard, no one else may be aware of it unless you tell them. So, give yourself credit for doing hard stuff. On the other hand, if someone tells you that a task that you deem simple was challenging for them, cheer them on. Encourage yourself, and others, to keep moving forward during liminal times.
Peace,
Laura
