When you think about the most courageous person you know, who comes to mind? How would you describe this person? For me, it would be my mother. I would describe her as a very courageous person because she always trusted her gut, worked hard in pursuit of her dream life, and always showed up as her true self.

What I find most admirable about those I find to be genuinely courageous is the level of trust that they have in themselves. They have a certainty within them that allows them to confidently show up as they are without worrying about what other people think. This confidence allows them to pursue their dreams with determination and tenacity.

We all want to live courageously. So, the question is: How come not all of us do? To find out the answer, we need to ascertain: What prevents you from trusting your intuition and showing up as your true self? One possible answer is the desire to conform.

If we want to live with courage, the first thing we need to learn is to let go of what people expect us to be. When we constantly strive to meet the expectations of others, we lose touch with who we really are. And in time, we will attach our self-worth to the approval of others, as opposed to something that is within us. If our self-worth is attached to something outside of us, we won’t be able to trust our own intuition and make brave decisions in our lives.

The second thing we need to learn in order to live with courage is to allow ourselves to transform. Living courageously means dealing with challenges that we encounter. As we deal with these challenges, we learn about ourselves. Whether we succeed or not, we gain a deeper understanding of who we are. When we understand ourselves deeply, we think differently. That’s where our transformation begins: We make better choices and these choices transform our lives.

It all comes back full circle. To live with courage, you need to be in touch with who you really are, the version of you who is willing to evolve and grow. When you are able to witness and appreciate your own growth, you will see how life is working for you. You will get a better sense of your own self-worth, something that you recognize within you. And from this place, you will be able to trust yourself and your intuition. This is reflected in the choices you make.

In the end, living courageously is about learning to escape from the clutches of others people’s expectations, and even your own. When you let go of the “should”, you open up space that enables you to step out and open possibilities for yourself. You get to create your life--the one that you really want. So, go ahead and bring something amazing into your life.