This piece was inspired by our recent ICW webinar, “Courage Embodied: A Heart-Forward Way of Being,” where panelists and coaches Tracy Brown, Smita R, and Hetal Sonpal joined us to explore the powerful ways courage shows up in our lives—and in coaching. At Coacharya, we believe courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it simply breathes, listens, and chooses to show up anyway.
Dear Reader,
You’ve called my name many times. Sometimes as a whisper, sometimes through tears, and sometimes in the quiet of your own thoughts. I hear you. And I want to share something with you.
People often think they know me. Over the years, one side of my face has been shown so often–bold, fearless, loud– that many believe that’s the only way I look. I can be all those things. But that’s not all I am.
You see, I don’t require you to be without fear. I walk hand in hand with it. If you’re waiting to feel fearless, you might never take the step you long to take. I don’t come after fear is gone. I come when you decide to move forward, even with fear sitting beside you.
I’m not always loud or dramatic. More often, I arrive quietly–in a shaky voice that speaks up anyway, in the pause before a hard decision, in the steady breath before saying, “This isn’t okay.” I show up in the moments no one sees, and that’s where I do some of my most meaningful work.
I’m not recklessness or bravado. I’m not the leap without the look. I’m the choice to act with care, with clarity, and with heart. I don’t promise ease or applause, only alignment with what truly matters to you.
I’m not reserved for heroes or headlines. I live in people who choose patience, in teammates who offer truth, in leaders who admit they don’t have all the answers. And yes, I live deeply in coaches, too.
Coaches carry me in powerful ways. In how they hold space for truth. In their willingness to ask the questions that stir discomfort and growth. In how they trust their presence more than their performance. Every time a coach meets a client with kindness and honesty, I’m there. Every time a coach leans into uncertainty rather than rushing to fix it, I show up.
If you’ve ever said, “This is hard, but I’ll try,” I was with you.
If you have ever chosen truth over ease, growth over certainty, or your values over your fears, I stood beside you.
You don’t need to be perfect to find me. You don’t need a title. You don’t need permission. I don’t ask for readiness. Only willingness.
The next time your heart races and your voice trembles, don’t wait for me. I’ll meet you there.
With you,
Courage
At Coacharya, we help coaches and leaders recognize and embody this kind of courage–the quiet, grounded kind that transforms conversations and lives. If you’re curious about deepening your own practice of courage, in coaching or in life, we invite you to learn with us.
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