Your Magenta Monday Magic.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither knows victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt (emphasis my own)
If you know Brené Brown’s work, you’re likely also familiar with this quote. She often shares it when she tells the story of her first TedX talk going viral. While the talk helped lead her to success, the comments it generated were riddled with criticisms of everything from her weight to the outfit she wore on stage.
At first, she was distracted and depressed by the comments, until she found this quote. It helped her realize that she would much rather put herself in the arena – even if it meant being a target – than hide out on the sidelines like so many of her detractors.
So, what gets in the way of stepping into the arena? Quite simply, it’s fear. Fear is often the biggest obstacle to growth, but a growth mindset activity can help you overcome it.
Being brave comes with a lot of risk. When you put yourself out there, whether it’s for a job you really want, or to have a tough conversation with someone you love, you will know failure, disappointment, setback, heartbreak, and defeat. It just comes with the territory.
But there is also a huge upside when you take risks. You’ll know the satisfaction of asking for what you want and getting it. You’ll reap the reward of taking your relationship to the next level because you were brave enough to initiate a vulnerable conversation. You’ll step into the exhilaration of staring fear in the face and doing ‘it’ anyway.
When you stretch your edges and embrace the unknown, you will know joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, growth, and profound gratitude.
How do you overcome the fear that keeps you from experiencing all of these beautiful things?
By taking action. Action is the antidote to fear, and the growth mindset activity that helps shift your perspective is often a series of small, incremental steps.
These are the steps that happen when no one is looking, but they compound over time.
Monday Mindshift
It’s the 1° shift that makes the biggest difference over time.
Pick someone you admire, and think of something she (or he) has done that made you think: ‘Woah. That is so brave! I could NEVER do that!’ If you can, reach out to that person and ask if they’re open to sharing the process that led to them doing that big, brave thing.
You might find that she committed herself to start taking risks. Perhaps she worked her way up to that big thing through a series of tiny, little steps.
You may hear that she was terrified – but that it was important to her to do something big just to prove to herself that she could.
When you get curious and break it down, you’ll realize that even though it may not seem like it from the outside, you’re a lot more like that brave person than you thought you were.
If they can do it, you can too! 🤩
Are you sitting on the sidelines? Or are you stepping into the arena and making small growth mindset activities a part of your daily routine to build your courage?
Living BRIGHTer is...
B - Be Brave
R - Cultivate Relationships
I - Live with Intention
G - Practice Gratitude
H - Prioritize Health
T - Live your Truth
What is Magenta?
The color magenta is one of universal harmony and emotional balance. It is spiritual yet practical, encouraging common sense and a balanced outlook on life. Magenta helps to create harmony and balance in every aspect of life; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
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