Courage to be fully you.
The Courage to Think Beyond Ourselves: Leonie Dawson’s Call to the Inner Creative
Every week I ask my Brave New Girls podcast guest how they define courage. This is how Award-winning Entrepreneur Leonie Dawson thinks of it:
"Growing up on a cattle farm, I always thought it was better than a sheep farm, because sheep are enormously susceptible to herd mentality. They will just run themselves off a cliff. Courage is having a look at what all of the other animals are doing and going, 'is that the right course for me?'"
Leonie's farming analogy cuts to the heart of what it means to be courageous in today's world. She points out how easy it would be to follow the crowd - spending hours scrolling through social media, getting caught up in outrage, and seeking dopamine hits to regulate our nervous systems. But true courage means choosing a different path, even when it's harder.
For Leonie, this means making conscious choices about her time and energy. She's taken two-year breaks from social media and regularly implements strict boundaries around internet use. She recognises that staying centered on her true purpose - creating goodness for herself, her family, and the world - requires breaking away from the herd mentality.
This kind of courage is about daily choices and consistent actions that align with our values rather than popular opinion. It's about asking ourselves, "Is this really the right thing for me?" even when everyone else is heading in a different direction.
Leonie's approach to courage was illustrated when she came to do a big speech at the Dream Quest conference. She could have done what she normally does, relying on humour and wit. But this time she felt called to do something different. She spoke with vulnerability about the power of creativity and spirituality.
She trusted in herself that her words would land in the way she intended. She was fearful, but she held firm to courage and the room was deeply moved. The shift has subsequently moved the direction of her business.
Her experience shows that courage often means saying no to the easy options in order to make space for what truly matters. This might mean stretching beyond our comfort zones and into our true nature.
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Dare to do things differently, for a happier, healthier, impactful life.
Here are practical ways to embrace courage & support a healthier, more sustainable world:
10 Actionable Steps to Build Courage:
1. Question the default path - ask "Is this right for me?" before following trends
2. Set intentional boundaries around social media and news consumption
3. Listen to your intuition when it suggests a different direction
4. Choose creative action over passive consumption
5. Stay focused on your core purpose despite distractions
6. Practice saying no to things that don't align with your values
7. Take regular breaks from the "herd" to check your direction
8. Create your own measures of success rather than following others'
9. Build support systems that encourage authentic choices
10. Regularly evaluate whether your actions match your intentions
The key to cultivating courage is remembering that it's not about being fearless - it's about choosing your own path even when it feels uncomfortable.
PS. As your Wellbeing Coach, I give you the tools to heal, grow & create the life you want.
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