Courage to Lead
A young mom, Sheila, took her only little girl to her first day of school. Her young daughter, naturally nervous, became scared and frightened at the thought of her mom leaving her. She cried and clung tightly to her mom’s leg. Leaving her daughter at school that first day took courage from them both. But Sheila remembered the things she had done in her own life that were scary … that she didn’t want to do … but in the end, were worth it. Things like going off to college and being on her own for the first time in her life or applying for that first big job.
The next day, this wise Mom, was prepared for her daughter’s fear and as her daughter began to cry, she removed one of her earrings, a lion, the universal symbol of courage. She kneeled beside her daughter and showed her the familiar lion jewelry piece. She explained to her daughter that the lion was courageous and would always remind her to be brave. The encouraging words allowed her daughter to stop crying, stand up straight and walk into the school.
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear.”
~Mark Twain
The daughter carried the lion with her as she joined the high school debate team, went to college, and faced down opponents to become a national debate champion. She wore it a few days ago as Sheila watched her daughter walk down the aisle toward her new husband and a new life venture. The new bride presented her mother with a lion necklace as a reminder that they both can be courageous in the face of the difficult, scary, and unknown.
As leaders, encouraging others to face down fears, to take chances, and become great is just as scary for us as it is for those we encourage. And sometimes we all need a reminder from someone we love and respect to let us know we can do it. Keep on
