Courage with a Big C, and courage with a little c
One of many moments of courage…
A story about a disobedient daughter
This morning before the day got going, I paused to listen to a guided meditation on the topic of courage in one of my favorite apps (look out for Friday's coffee break for details on which app it was)
The meditation asked us to think about a time in our past when we did something that took courage.
Immediately I thought back to my sophomore year of high school. A friend of mine and I wanted to go to Europe. Mary was older than me by about four years and had already graduated from high school. This friend had been hit by a drunk driver when she was in high school and won a lawsuit. She had some money, and she wanted us to go to Europe together.
I remember asking (err begging) my parents if I could go to Europe with Mary. Even though they didn’t have to pay for the trip, they told me no. I kept asking, they kept saying no. In my heart of hearts, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was supposed to go to Europe that summer. Like an irresistible siren, Paris was calling my soul home, and I started making plans to visit the city of lights with Mary even though I’d not been given the green light to go.
Somehow I mustered my courage, and in my first major act of individuation, I went behind my parents' backs and applied for a passport (you could do that without your parents present back then). I also kept asking and kept hearing no. As a child that prided herself on being a good girl, this was the first time I’d ever disobeyed my parents so strongly, but in my heart, I knew it was the right decision. I was blind to any other path than the one that led to Europe.
Eventually, Mary’s mom and best friend Linda said they’d go as our chaperones if it would convince my parents to let me go. That turned out to be the key, or I’d just worn them down, and my parents reluctantly relented. I went to Europe that summer, and to this day, those are some of my most cherished memories.
This morning after the meditation, I took a moment to reflect on all of the other times in my life when I had to muster my courage to do things that seemed hard, crazy, or irresponsible, yet I knew in my heart of hearts were what I was supposed to do. The list was longer than I had anticipated.
I was inspired to challenge my morning writing and creativity group to think about courage as well. I posed these questions...
Think back in your life to your younger self. What was something you did when you were younger that took courage? List three things that you’ve done that took courage, then next to them, write out what each of those things taught you.
What is little c courage to you? What is big C courage to you?
Where does your source of courage come from?
Where in your life do you need courage right now?
I’d like to ask you to answer these questions too.
I hope you'll pause and really think about them.
Personally being reminded of the strengths that my courage elicited was more important than I realized. It was like medicine to my nervous system and gave me a boost of encouragement that only I could give myself.
If you’re a woman in a transitional period or on the cusp of a transitional period experiencing things like
Feeling stuck
Experiencing next-level feelings of burnout
Feeling like something is off or missing
Working through a divorce, empty nest, or retirement
The challenges of entrepreneurship
Working through a failure
Grief (grief can be caused by so many things, grieving a past self, the death of a loved one, the loss of a friendship, not getting a promotion or landing something you wanted)
A spiritual crossroads
Feeling like you have lost yourself after parenting for one month or several years
The after-effects of the pandemic
It’s going to take courage to make a change or ask for help.
As a few friends reminded me recently, nothing changes if nothing changes. Thankfully it is often, that recognition of needing to make a change that is the biggest and scariest step.
I’m currently taking applications for clients who’d like to courageously work with me in the second quarter.
You can apply to work with me here. Applications are due by April 18th.
Spots are filling up...
If you’ve already looked at this application, you might be surprised to see that I added another coaching option that’s a 1 month period if you’re not sure about a full three-month experience.
Together We Rise,
-Alisha
Wonder what clients are saying about working with me?
"The time I've spent with Alisha, in both RAW and individual coaching has been instrumental in my development as a whole person. I initially booked my 12-session coaching package with Alisha, to focus on growing my business. She helped me quickly realize that some of the challenges I was facing in my personal life were actually impacting my business, so we began addressing those during our sessions. Alisha has helped me to understand that as a human, all the parts of us (work, personal, emotional, etc) play a role in the growth of each other. During our time together, she supported me as we dug deep, uncovered blocks, then looked at them and created ways to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. Alisha guided me in creating a roadmap for continued expansion in all of these areas. Working with Alisha was one of the greatest gifts I've ever given myself." -Amy Banocy
"Even at a crossroads, I thought I pretty much knew what I needed to do, yet still struggled with how to move forward. Turns out I was walking a path I deep down didn't want to follow. Alisha helped me realize that. Then she helped me navigate and focus on pieces of the larger picture I never even saw. Her wisdom was filled with practical tools that propelled me in new directions. She provided me the space to find my power and stand inside it." -Lyn Koonce
"I have worked with Alisha for the past 3 years, and I have had more growth during that time than I could have imagined. With her support, gentle yet firm wisdom, I feel like I know myself better than I ever have. She helped me realize what I truly want (and don't want). My thoughts about myself have completely changed. She is very thorough, asks all the right questions and really listens as she works out a plan to get you to your goal. Alisha is a person who "walks the walk." -Deanna Kennedy
"I’ve been fortunate to work with Alisha and participate in the Company of Women during the most transformative phase of my life. Alisha helped me to learn to see myself in a new way and to ask questions of myself I had previously not known how to ask. The support from Alisha and the community she has created has been invaluable for me as I’ve changed the course of my life in ways I didn’t even know were possible a few years ago." -Caroline Wilson
Alisha Wielfaert is a life coach and an expert facilitator skilled in the art of gathering women for meaningful connection and deep dives into spirituality and creativity. She is the founder of Yoke and Abundance, a platform committed to amplifying the emerging voices of women through her wise women podcast, press publishing arm, and individual and group coaching programs. Her first book, the best-seller, “Little Failures: Learning to Build Resilience Through Everyday Setbacks, Challenges, and Obstacles,” was published in May of 2022. Alisha is working on her second book, Little Rituals. In her spare time and stolen moments, Alisha loves watercolor painting. She is an avid traveler, writer, and speaker who enjoys working with anyone with a propensity to take action toward their dreams.