Moments of insane courage

You know as a kid, I always dreamt of being a superhero.  Can you imagine what it would be like to fly and possess superhuman strength?!  (Superman wannabe right here!) But more than craving superhero abilities, I was awe-inspired by what superheroes represent…breaking the barriers of the impossible.  Despite seemingly fierce competition and unbeatable odds, they embrace mere moments of insane courage and charge forward, looking for opportunities in every challenge.

We never know what circumstances life will hurl our way, and some of us may have never thought we’d be in the situation we’re in. In her early thirties, my mother found herself alone to raise five young children.  With no extensive work history and no college education, that barrier must have looked overwhelming. But Superheroes look for the opportunities in every problem. My mother returned to school, earned her college degree, and elevated her family to a new standard of living.  No matter where you are in life, or in your professional career, the odds are never unbeatable! It just takes that moment of insane courage in which you determine to charge forward.

Now I won’t pretend that it’s always easy!  I’m sure many of you look for your Zen moment on a daily basis.  You ever work with co-workers who seem to complain constantly and always remind you that they work so much harder than anyone else?  Do you supervise those who tell you what is and isn’t their job, and love to offer their “expertise” on how to do yours? Do you work for an impossible boss?  Are you being overlooked for a raise or promotion? Do you fear stepping outside your comfort zone? In short, challenges are real and you may not always succeed in your first, second, or even third attempt.  Success is not always a straight path and there will be days where you feel like you’re moving backward. Sometimes you may have to journey through the valleys of failure before you can reach the mountain tops of success.  But here’s a tip…failure leads to the path of success.  The past does not define your probability of future victory. It’s not about where you’ve been; it’s where you’re going. Once you accept that simple fact, the superhero within emerges. 

So ladies and gentlemen…embrace moments of insane courage and determine to charge forward despite the challenges!  As with every superhero, there will always be those who embrace a different vision. There will always be critics who attempt to tear you down.  You will always have fears. But as Benjamin Mee said it best, “Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery and I promise you, something great will come of it.”  So put on your cape and fly!josh