Source 5  Connecting to the Universe

•   Courage

.».  Opening
     Imagine a Knight with a well balanced sword in hand charging down a dusty path.  The sword can both instill confidence and effect courage.  The sword gives the Knight confidence knowing they can defend.  With sword in hand, held up high, light beaming off the blade…courage.  The moment (not the sword) is the Knights courage, feeling.  The feeling the Knight has inside from holding the sword up high is the true courage.  Contained in that moment is the energy to do. 
       Your confidence may be your favorite outfit, your freshly washed vehicle looking just so before heading out for the evening.  Courage is guidance allowing you to act beyond those items.  See too how the pause (space) associated with a big deep breath can elicit courage.  Courage, in the face of life…

.».  To Practice
» I found the courage to…
       rest,
       be,
       live,
       be happy,
       receive.
       I found the courage to…  List out where you have found the courage to do and would like to in the future.  Rather than the fears you face (S2. Fears) or standing up to them (S2. Them) list out the life you live through courage.  For instance if you would like to perform on stage the focus is not about “facing my fear of getting up on stage” the focus is about you on stage performing: I found the courage to perform on stage.  This way (S5. Lifestyle, » This way) leverages the positive (S12. Focus on the positive).
       Now beyond the fear the emphasis is on you, what you are doing (with your courage) and what you would like to do (choice).  Past events are a nice way to look at where you had courage.  Sometimes recognizing what you have done and where you (presently) are can be useful in moving forward.  Listing out future plans/dreams aligns with the Practice intention with a focus on moving forward and takes courage.   
       Note:  In sitting down to make my own list I found it tricky to focus on the positive.  I started with “I found the courage to live beyond my fears” as this is what felt relevant in that moment.  My focus was still on the external and negative.  Start where ever you feel to start, when the focus of your list and life are to the positive true change comes forth…

.».  Expressions
Courage is action:
» The courage is the energy behind the action.
       The grammar of the courage is a bit funky I know.  By stating the courage it gives it texture, body as if the courage has it’s own existence.  Courage explained in the Practice is an energy you tap into, the courage is available to you.
» To acknowledge your worth, to receive, to be while doing (which creates) is courage.
» It takes courage to create and receive.
       Ultimately they are one (courage, receiving, creating).
» Courage is just choice disguised as valour.
       The choice and onto the act.
» The tenacity to emphatically say…
              this is me,
              this work is me,
              this is who I am, is courage.
       What ever work you do…  from Element 1 we see it’s the work you do (literally).  So you doing the work rather than this Practice or that process.
» Posture takes courage.
       Feeling down, slumping… courage.
» Courage gives you choice.
       In a situation, opportunity, your life.  Choice as an action.  Without courage you may be indecisive causing hesitation.  With courage you simply go.  Routine provides a similar looking action until something (possibly unexpected) changes, then your courage shows up.  With courage you can say no (to the pain) and yes (to love).
» The opportunities are just that (opportunities).
       Courage is to take them (to go for it, action).
       Note:  One opportunity I participated in was this information coming to me, the courage was writing it down even before it made sense.
» It takes tremendous courage to overcome regret.
       Regret can be a sign of complacency.  Turn the regret into positive action and you have found the courage from deep within to overcome the past.
» Rejection can be a result of your courage.  
       Turn the rejection into personal growth and you create (S1. Do Be Create).

You:
» The confidence to receive, live.
       Start here at confidence and then on to courage.  See how the confidence is (from) you, courage is connection (S6. Relationships).
» It takes courage to be happy.
       It’s easier to sit around blaming the world (S2. Victim Mentality) than to find (create) your happiness.  Courage is not easy, with courage life flows.  There is an different energy between easy and flow.  For example a class 4 river has a flow that is exhilarating, yet also contains it’s calm sections.  The ebb and flow of life (evolution) moves away from hard/easy to growth/integrate through courage.  This mirrors the path from excited to happy (S9. Happy).
» Your courage is unique to you.
       No need to judge or compare your courage to others.  Courage in a sense is opinion.  What you deem as courage may just be an everyday act to someone else (and vice versa).  Courage can be a stairway to action, each step increasing your actions building on your courage and so on.
» The courage to put everything on the line for your dreams (including your fears).
       Through you doing, being the work, living your life.
» Be brave?
       + be.  It’s less about brave and more about being.  This living connected Being that roams free.
       The being provides the courage, the being is the connection, stillness.
» The Universe rewards courage.
       Not with success with growth (your evolving).  Your evolving allows you to enjoy life.  Your external success may be the new car in your driveway.  If someone dings your door as an evolving Being you see the situation as it is.  You may be sad others are inconsiderate but not angry.  Anger is detrimental to your system.

Courage is not:
» Every action is not courage.
» Courage is not Anger.
       Anger (frustration too) will make you do things, courage will allow (S5. Allow) you to do things.  You might like to take a moment to contemplate the difference.
» Don’t take a chance… act.
       They are completely different.  You can throw a dice up in the air (chance) you can look across the room and know (S4. To Know) that is for me.  Could be your future partner, a child that sparks you to be silly or simply the dessert cart I’ll have the chocolate mousse please.  Courage is to do and be, through courage become the person you are to be.
» Courage is not a choice it’s an act.
       You don’t choose to be courage (courageous) you choose to act (S5. Action) from a place of courageousness.  You can choose to do something (sign up for an interview, start a new business), the act (interviewing, starting the business) is the courage.  

.».  Examples
     Signing up for a job interview is to take a chance, to see if you get the interview.  Walking through that door, interviewing, shaking the hand of your future employer takes courage.  Same for walking out that door (of your old office) and starting your own new business, takes courage.  In time though it’s all relative to your situation and perspective/opinion.  For you it may be courage to request the interview, this too is an act(tion).
         Filling out the interview request from the place of I probably will not get this is not courage.  If you go out into the world and try something with the intention of failing that is not courage, more like sabotage and using pain as a way to feel (S2. Using Pain to Feel).  Now you start to make the connection of courage and vulnerability (S9. Vulnerability).  The connection is you.  You choose to be vulnerable you allow courage.

.».  Summary
       Ultimately the courage is the energy (S4. Energy) behind the action that you allow through connection.

(S5. Courage)  © 2023 Busacca