Learning From Mistakes — Blog — Courage to Caregivers

OCTOBER 2024 Newsletter: Choose Courage

What comes to mind when you hear the word "COURAGE?" Do you think of larger-than-life figures? The battles and revolutions you studied in school? The brave actions that individuals and communities have taken across time to change the world? Courage is a term that we hear often, yet we struggle sometimes to attribute to ourselves.

However, this month, we recognized the big and small ways we can be courageous in our everyday lives. Whether it is through LEARNING from our mistakes, FINDING strength amidst adversity, CHOOSING progress over perfection, or SAYING no, we bring courage to ourselves as caregivers.

Brené Brown says it best in her book The Gifts of Imperfection: "The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant ‘To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.’

“Over time, this definition has changed, and today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes, but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we’re feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage. Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. In today’s world that’s pretty extraordinary.”

3 TOOLS TO CULTIVATE COURAGE:

Notice and Accept Your Thoughts and Emotions - It is natural to feel scared, stressed, and overwhelmed at times. Life is hard, and unexpected situations and events can occur! There is no shame in experiencing emotions. What matters is what we do with them.
Embrace Your Fears, and Share with Others - Recognize which of your fears are legitimate and which are unfounded. Remember, you are NOT alone. Find your community of support. Join our group coaching here!
Own Your Power, and Choose Courage - Courage is something we can learn. Take stock of your strengths and room for growth, and courageously take action. You got this!

Check out our entire October newsletter focused on Courage here.

The Power of Admitting a Mistake

"The most successful people are not the ones who never fail, but the ones who learn from their failures." ~ Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

It’s part of being human. We see a problem that needs fixing, or something important that needs to be done, and with the best of intentions, we do something that just turns out all wrong. We’ve made a mistake, and as I like to say, it’s all part of being a perfectly imperfect perpetual work in progress.

CourageKristi HornerOctober 3, 2024Learn From Mistakes, Learning From Mistakes

OCTOBER 2023 Newsletter: Cultivating COURAGE with Compassion

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes the courage is the quiet at the end of the day saying 'I will try again tomorrow.'" ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

You may have wondered why we chose COURAGE to be a part of our nonprofit's name. For me, courage is something that is essential in a caregiver’s tool box, and it often feels ‘depleted.’ Courage to Caregivers aims to support caregivers by empowering them to channel their ‘inner’ courage - whether it’s a little or a lot. And, yes, it doesn’t always roar!

Brené Brown says it best in her book The Gifts of Imperfection: "The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant ‘To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.’

“Over time, this definition has changed, and today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes, but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we’re feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage. Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. In today’s world that’s pretty extraordinary.”

We show ordinary courage in those micro-moments we demonstrate every day as caregivers. It may feel like micro-courage - yet, showing up every day and being vulnerable – that’s ordinary courage. It can be HARD - it definitely takes EXTRAordinary bravery and strength.

In The Courage Habit: How to Accept Your Fears, Release the Past, and Live Your Courageous Life, author Kate Swoboda shares four habits that supports us in cultivating courage - 1) accessing the body; 2) listening without attachment; 3) reframing limiting stories; and 4) reaching out and creating community. At Courage to Caregivers we're all about creating courageous communities as we support caregivers in building their courage muscles. Courageous communities give us the support we need to face challenges ... together. Swoboda invites us to consider "where are the courage-based relationships in your life that will make up your courageous community?" Who embodies the courage qualities of vulnerability, optimism, empathy, compassion, and kindness? Find someone to practice courageous connection or join one of our group coaching sessions where you'll get lots of practice. Practice leads to creating sustainable habits that, over time, will transform your life!

Check out our entire October newsletter focused on COURAGE here.

Own Your Mistakes, but Don’t Let Them Own You

“Your past mistakes are meant to guide you, not define you.” – Elisha Goldstein

Making mistakes is a part of life. But the way we respond and manage our behaviors and emotions when we make mistakes is the focus of our topic this week. By learning from mistakes, we can follow the advice of Elisha Goldstein in the quote above, to let our mistakes guide us rather than define us.

CourageKristi HornerOctober 4, 2023Learning From Mistakes, Learn From Mistakes