Lead with Courage: don’t ever play it safe!

If you’re always sticking to the comfortable path, avoiding risks, and trying to keep everyone happy, you’re not leading. You’re surviving. And that’s not what leaders are meant to do. Leadership isn't about playing it safe.

What separates great leaders from the bad ones, is courage, the willingness to step into the unknown, make tough calls, and stick your neck out when no one else will. And here’s the thing: courage doesn’t come from thinking your way through a problem. It comes from your gut. Your instincts. That deep, internal sense that says, 'Go for it!' even when the path ahead looks terrifying or you don't have all the information yet.

So why do so many leaders still play it safe? And what can you do to break that cycle?

Courage starts with the gut. You know why: language proves it:

"No guts, no glory!'

See? :))

Ok, the gut-brain again. We know it’s where courage lives, but most people ignore it because it doesn’t always 'make sense'. It’s the part of you that says: 'go all in', while your head is doing endless calculations or mind mapping trying to find a reason to back out.

mBIT (Multiple Brains Integration Techniques) teaches us that when your gut-brain is aligned with your head and heart, you become unstoppable - in a good way. But too many leaders rely on their thinking minds alone.

YOU ARE NOT YOUR THINKING BRAIN!!

They overthink everything and let fear take control. With that comes indecisiveness. Afraid to make the call, take the decision. Based on fear we lack ownership and decision-making skills. People that don’t trust their gut, miss out on opportunities that could transform their business, teams, and growth.

Courage is like a muscle. The more you trust your gut and take bold action, the stronger it gets. Trust me, I’ve been there. Writing and publishing my book, No Matter What, wasn’t some easy stroll through the park. I was hit with countless obstacles, moments where everything in my head said: 'Just STOP!' But my gut? It pushed me forward. It said, 'Keep the fuck going, Raf. 'And luckily, I listened.

So What?

What does courageous leadership look like? Here’s the so what answer: Courageous leadership means leading from the gut when the stakes are high, and the outcome is unclear. It’s about making decisions when no one else wants to, even if there’s no guarantee of success.

Think of the Gurdjieff approach. Gurdjieff taught that real growth comes from observing yourself and breaking automatic patterns. Leaders who are stuck in their heads, constantly playing it safe, are on autopilot. They’re reacting, not leading. But when you start observing yourself, noticing when fear is holding you back or your own negative beliefs, and pushing through that resistance, you break free from that cycle.

‘Gurdjieff presents us with practical uncompromising, self-discovery, self-realisation, and self-transcendence. He said the following about his ideas: This teaching is for those who are not satisfied with what they have found in life and who feel that there must be something else, besides success and failure in life and beyond what they have been taught in school and by their upbringing’. - snippet from this youtube video

Courage isn’t a magic trait that only a few people are born with. It’s a decision you make every single day. To observe your behavior. To take responsibility for your actions, conflicts, and confusion. Do you step up, or do you play small? Do you act, or do you hesitate? Hesitation means something is blocking you. Sometimes it is a good sign - you should question that too and listen to it -, but most of the time we don't move forward because of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of what will happen if we make a bold decision, fear of losing our job, fear of...whatever.

Fear is your signal to act. Here’s a little truth bomb: fear doesn’t mean stop. It means GO.

F: alse

E: vidence

A: ppearing

R: eal

Most people think fear is a red light, a sign that you should pull back. But real leaders know that fear is a signal - a sign that you’re on the edge of something. When you feel fear in your gut, that’s when you need to act. It’s not about being reckless. That's a stupid action. It’s about being brave enough to move forward when your comfort zone is screaming for you to stay put.

In leadership, every great decision has an element of fear in it. That’s the gut-brain at work. If you’re not feeling a little bit scared, you’re probably not pushing yourself hard enough. You’re not growing. And if you’re not growing, your leadership is stagnant. And stagnation? That’s the enemy of progress.

To be bluntly honest: I am still a bit scared to let go of all the work that I have done before, in the way I have done it until now. That means: hired to be the change within the system of an organization, to establish teams, and to lead the way to change and organizational transformation. Until now I facilitated teams and organizations with my daily presence. But I grew out of that after 15 years of doing so.

I truly feel and deep down - from my gut - I do know, that I can make more impact on more people within organizations. It is time to facilitate teams into their greatness, to help them overcome their mental limitations and inability for creative thinking and doing. To guide them on their leadership journey - doing The HeartWork. To coach people on how to break through those remaining and not-so-helpful (negative) belief systems and patterns. Sometimes, we just need to have our go-to person. A motivator, activator, a person who you truly want to be guided by and who also can facilitate creative, compassionate, and courageous direction. Someone who points out so clearly what your challenge is to break through the noise because we can't look into our own eyes (without a mirror). We all have our blind spots.

Most of the time it is hard to overcome your own limiting thoughts and beliefs, and to see your unconscious behaviors. But once you do: you will start observing yourself during chaos, in situations that need your true attention, so that you can choose your most effective behavior. Wise leaders are born from a place of deep awareness and consciousness, guided by their head, heart, and gut.?

“Watch yourself. And remember yourself.’ - Gurdjieff

A few years ago I wrote a piece at Medium called 'The Mamba Mentality' and I explained:?

‘We share stories to show others to look internally and in the end to make sure we all find more creativity in navigating towards the sense of Self. To develop ourselves. To become a better human being. No matter the pursuit that we are on.’??

Inner development

Inner development is key to inner and outer transformation and self-realization. It's what I practice myself, day in and day out. With this approach, I can transfer my inner wisdom to others. Another true warrior in my eyes is Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi, and I gained some wisdom from his online teachings that I love tho share with you.

‘Demon hand, Buddha heart’ - Shaolin master Shi Heng Yi

These monks don’t just meditate all day - they’re warriors of the mind and body. And one of the biggest lessons I’ve taken from them is the importance of mental and physical discipline and abilities. They don’t let fear dictate their actions. Instead, they stay present, fully aware of their fears, but never paralyzed by them.

'You need to have a capable body' - Shaolin master Shi Heng Yi

This I know by heart. I find myself being mentally stronger when my body is physically strong too. My minds get amazingly clear and focused. Decisions are easier. I experience true flow states and less procrastination. Getting older - yep, beyond 40, it is harder to maintain a strong body easily. We lose muscles pretty fast when we get older, but with that natural process of our bodies in decline, we truly need to become aware that how our body feels relates to how we behave in life.

In the same way, courageous leaders don’t pretend fear doesn’t exist - they acknowledge it, and then move forward anyway. Courageous leaders adapt compassion and creativity too: it is about taking full ownership of your inner world so that the chaos around you doesn’t knock you off your game. Shi Heng Yi’s, but also Gurdjieff teachings remind us that discipline over the mind and body is what enables us to act with strength and clarity, even in the face of fear. For many years, I’ve researched the wisdom of these inspiring leaders. It helps me to guide myself and this is a never-ending journey.

If you want to lead with courage, here’s where you start:

1. Trust your gut: Stop overthinking. When you get that instinctual push to act, follow it. Your gut knows more than you give it credit for. And if you fail, try again next time. Ask your gut: what are you trying to tell me right now and does it align with my heart and mind too?
2. Observe your fear: Don’t ignore your fear, but don’t let it stop you either. Fear is the sign that you’re on the right track. Lean into it. Ask your fear: what message should I take from this fear?
3. Act before you’re ready: Waiting until you feel ready is a trap. There’s no “ready”. Never. Take the leap. Ask yourself: what if everything works out better than expected?
4. Lead with discipline: Like the Shaolin monks, cultivate the mental and physical discipline to stay grounded in chaos. It’s about staying sharp, present, and decisive when the world is spinning around you. Ask yourself: how can I remember myself within every situation so that I can come back stronger to my core or centered state every time again?

'A Warrior feels the obligation - when something is out of balance - to fix it' - Shaolin master Shi Heng Yi

80% of our information comes bottom-up: yes, your gut-brain is where most answers and wisdom come from. Do not only lead and act with courage (identity, self-preservation, action), but integrate compassion (connection, appreciation, feelings) and creativity (giving meaning, thinking, perceiving) too, and watch how your leadership transforms. Because the truth is, the biggest opportunities are waiting just outside your comfort zone. This is when magic happens. It's not esoteric, it is not fluffy, it is what sits in your body. So use it.

Now you know: Playing it safe is a slow death for your own leadership in work and life. Courage, the willingness to act in the face of fear, is what sets the best leaders apart from the rest. And it’s not some mystical force; it’s in your gut. It’s a choice you make every day. Whether you’re writing a book, leading a team, or making a high-stakes decision: success leaves clues. Figure yourself out.

Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s talk about how you can start leading with more courage. Yes, starting today.

Warrior Wednesdays: dit is wat anderen je niet vertellen, maar ik wel. Go Heartcore, no matter what! Soon online: Heartcore Warriors Academy. Heeft nu echt te lang geduurd :) Stay tuned for updates of boek een gratis discovery call for alle nieuwsgierige aagjes die net zoals ik ook geen geduld hebben. ??

Disclaimer: Read at your own risk (of getting inspired) ??

Hi, I’m Agavni Jessaijan - just a humble explorer carrying the glorious burden of relentless curiosity and obsession for Personal Mastery. I dive headfirst into ancient wisdom, neuroscience shit, inspiring self-help books, and yes, the occasional 3 a.m. YouTube rabbit hole. Why? Because I’m on a mission to find the deeper WHY behind the great masters and badass wisdom that lights my soul on fire. What otherwise, is our purpose on Earth?

But let’s get one thing straight: I’m not a journalist, and I don’t have a PhD (gasp!). What I do have is a beautifully rebellious heart, a creative-as-hell independent mind, and a gut so solid it could probably lift weights. I don’t just write for the sake of writing—I live this stuff. Every word you read here has been battle-tested by the universe (or by me, the universe's favorite guinea pig).

Before I hit publish, I always ask myself: So what? If it doesn’t pass my No-BS check, it doesn’t make the cut. So here we are - Warrior Wednesdays - where you get the raw, unfiltered, occasionally sweary wisdom straight from my head, heart, and gut. And Warrior Spirit. Of course :)

If you’re looking for footnotes and academic jargon, you’re in the wrong place. If you’re here for something real, practical, and 100% authentic - welcome to the tribe. And hey, I don’t just talk the talk. I. Fucking. Walk. It.

Enjoy the ride. Or don’t. Either way, I’ll keep writing, because it’s how I make sense of this wild, wonderful, and sometimes crazy awful world.

No excuses. No half-work. No Matter What.

PS: I write in English and Dutch - because, let’s face it, some things just hit differently in English. Like "No Matter What" or "I. Fucking. Walk. It." Try saying that in Dutch, it’s impossible, stupid, and fucking weird. ??