Courage can be defined in many ways. It is standing for what we know is right even when we are afraid. It can be walking away from an unhealthy situation. It can be advocating for someone else. It may be speaking an uncomfortable truth. At the root of courage is heart centered action.
For me, it is always easiest to take heart centered action from a grounded and centered energy. As I meditated on writing this blog about courage my awareness focused on this coffee and tea set in my living room. I realized I also unconsciously find a focal point to help me direct my energy.
The set had a place of honor on top of the buffet in my parent’s dining area for as long as I can remember. My parents brought it back from Europe where they lived before I was born. It’s been a focal point and energy anchor intuitively for me forever.
As a small child I remember walking through the dining area thinking how pretty that set looked but knowing that touching it would get me in trouble. I would gravitate towards it when life around me got crazy. It was pretty and solid. It helped me feel brave and safe.
It made me happy to see the shiny pieces that looked like a happy family. They all were on a solid foundation together and stayed together no matter what. I gained courage and peace whenever I looked at it.
As a teenager I remember it being there through all the angst of growing up. Again, the set stayed together and shiny. It was my calm in the middle of many storms. I didn’t understand meditation yet but often found myself staring at the set when I needed to make a decision or have a tough conversation. It allowed me to find the courage in myself to speak and do things that I found scary.
Once I moved out and started my journey on my own the set became a subconscious centering point whenever I returned to my parents’ home. We would gather around the dining table and I always wanted to be facing the set. I would take a breath and look at the set before responding to a difficult question or comment.
As I expanded more into my true self in my life‘s journey there was always something grounding to me about that set sitting on top of the buffet in my parents dining room. When I started my own family and returned to my parents’ home to visit it always brought a smile to my face. The consistency of the set and the never changing location on the buffet gave me comfort, clarity, and direction.
I re-created this set by finding little teapot sets and purchasing them on my own. At some level I knew I was trying to fill a void in my life by bringing these sets into my home, but I didn’t quite understand what it was. I knew that having the sets centered me and helped me move through many challenges along the way. I would stare at them as I found courage to make difficult choices or take new risks.
When we sold my childhood home my sister and I were dividing up belongings between my mom, her, and me. I teared up when I asked for the set. My sister hesitated for a moment, saw my genuine need, and agreed that it was mine. I still didn’t know why I need it and the full power of that set. I just knew that I needed to have the courage to ask for it.
When I brought it to my home and gave it a place of honor in my living room, I realized that my courage and faith had come full circle. I had centered my focus on who I was and my value. The shiny set reflected back a strong woman who confidently connected into divine guidance, trusted it, made choices and took action. I didn’t need the set to see or center my energy or to have courage. I now could value the set for its beauty and memories.
The set still has a place of honor and I often pause near it to enjoy its bright beauty. What I see reflecting back is the value and courage that I put out daily. I show up authentically for me, my children, and my clients.
I have the courage to tap into my own energy to make centered choices and take the right next step. I also know that there is power in staring at a centering point to ground myself and connect even deeper to inner wisdom.
Those five beautiful pieces of shining metal provide confidence, clarity, comfort, courage, and the baseline connection that supports them all.
Originally posted on Brave Healer Blog.
