The Courage Catalyst #5 - Being Uncomfortable

I hope you had an inspiring week. First things first - I’m thrilled to have you on this journey with me. A warm welcome if you are joining this week. This is my weekly series where I share my learnings, challenges, musings on stepping powerfully into a life of your dreams. Choosing Courage over Comfort!

Once you subscribe, you’ll receive insights, curated links, resources, stories and the coolest things I’m learning about being courageous and bringing my A game to creating a prosperous, ethical and sustainable coaching and facilitation practice.?

I have one request as you read this newsletter. Please read it about YOU. Not about me. Know that you can create the most amazing version of this newsletter that you possibly can.?

Last week I ran a fun experiment to guess an emoji that I was thinking about. #askmeanything over a virtual coffee. Here is the emoji. ??While we didn't have a winner, I am grateful to you for playing along.??

Five things in my Courage catalyst series:

1. The Courage Toolbox?
2. Book I'm Recommending
3. Quote I'm pondering
4. Action that Inspires
5. Playground?

May this enrich and support your own journey of becoming the courageous leader with ease and joy.?

??The Courage Toolbox

'To truly listen, is to risk being changed forever'?- Elder Sa’k’ej Henderson

When we pay attention and truly listen, we see courage every day. Ordinary courage that’s pretty extraordinary really.

In a coaching conversation last week, my client was incredibly brave to go deep and truly examine the story that was playing on repeat. What kept her stuck and in a space of ‘I don't know’ was not about needing outside validation or approval to feel worthy. It was not about perfection.

It was valuing herself and keeping all possibilities open. It's an understanding of who to BE, not what to DO.?

She described herself as a work of art - like the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi. Kintsugi is a fascinating art form where broken pieces of pots and cups are glued together with lacquer and gold. The cracks are there but they are now gold. They don’t define us; instead, they show that we have lived life and survived.

She felt free. She saw wisdom in the gold. The cracks are her anchor to listen and speak from the scars not the wound.

What are the possibilities when we pause to examine our thoughts and our stories?

[I've committed to having 25 courageous conversations over the year?to show up powerfully in service of my clients. No strings attached. Y If you are really want things to be different, lets talk. You can book one of the calls here.].

?? Book I’m Recommending

The Book I Read - Stories of Transformation.

Warning! This book will positively impact your life.

This is an exciting collaboration book of 50 authors who shared stories about their transformation from reading a book.

I wrote chapter 15 - In Being Vulnerable, I?found my strength.?

Here is an opportunity to get to know a part of my journey of being a courage catalyst. You can download a copy of the book here

While you read this book, think about your own journey … What’s your story? What book has transformed your life??

?? Quote I’m Pondering?

Courage is a love affair with the unknown - Osho

??Action that inspires

If I was 100% comfortable with things not working out, what would I do?

• Be comfortable with the unknown.?
• Have the Courage to say Yes & to say No?
• Live life like everything is rigged in my favour!

?? Playground?

This is anything that makes you either Grin, Gasp and Giggle.?

[Grin because you’re excited with possibility. Gasp because you’re thinking “How am I ever going to pull this off?”? Giggle because you’ll LOVE IT if it actually happens!]

I recently went back to yoga practice with a fitness goal that is lighting me up. I am ready to nurture a new relationship with my body and to reconnect to my core.?

During the practice, my yoga teacher asked me to forget what I know about Yoga! “For today's sequence, come into a beginner's mind.”?As I attempted new postures, I felt resistance in my mind and body.

Only when I was willing to let go of expectations, I was open to making new discoveries on the yoga mat. It then occurred to me that there were other areas in my life that I might be resisting change. Perhaps I could implement this mindset in places beyond the yoga mat.

Do you feel resistance? What would happen if you chose to take on this mindset??

Lets try a quick experiment.

I invite you to share your thoughts weekly on Linkedin to create the possibility of transformation.

How do you feel?

Consider your reaction to this invitation. If you have resistance, observe your thoughts around what you see.This observation may create a breakthrough for you.?

I am not telling you to share weekly.?I am merely inviting you to consider it.??

This is where our growth lies. In feeling the resistance, getting curious, and choosing courage over comfort.?

I’d love to know what occurs when you consider this way of being - just hit reply and share

Thanks for reading. I hope you find my thoughts useful for your own journey. I’d love to hear from you. Your feedback is a gift. Feel free to email me at [email protected]

Keep Couraging

Farah Ismail

Founder, CoachFarah

??Your gifts are precious

Farah!!! It is wonderful.? You are an inspiration.? I love the presentation, the format and the content.? Thank you for speaking from your heart.? This makes me, the reader, feel connected with you.? I feel your excitement and your trepidation to go back to school, to travel.? I also feel your commitment,? and your enthusiasm to work hard and try new things.? This is contagious!? Your quotes are powerful!? They really inspire.? The format is great, short, and to the point.? And you have stuck with your commitment! ? Congratulations! Gets me wanting to write my own! ~ Coach Amanda Deitsch

I subscribed after reading the first one. That tells something I am sure!?~ Coach Bikramjit