The Courage To Be In the Arena

Courage5

During my meditation time the other morning I was working into a deep meditation reciting Psalm 46:10 in my mind over and over as I have countless times before. 

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

My mind didn’t feel very still at the moment as I was trying to settle my bucking bronco mind down into some level of peace and quiet. Sometimes that takes a minute and sometimes it seems like it never happens.

Deeply Knowing By Experience

I was about ten minutes into my meditation when I got this simple, but profound download. My inner voice told me to focus on the word “know”.

What does it actually mean to truly know God and know I am his divine son? To experience God on a deep and profound level.

To know means to perceive directly. To know someone means to have direct experience.

How would I live my life if I know in the depths of my heart and every cell in my body that my Heavenly Father, Divine Mother is love? And that perfect love drives out fear.

What would it feel like to live without fear and without attachment to anything in this world with a deep knowing that everything in my life is being brought to me for my spiritual growth?

The question I ask myself, “Are we ever completely fearless?” 

Jesus sweated drops of blood after all before he was crucified on the cross. That sounds like fear and being very human to me.

Be Courageous 

Here is what I am realizing in my life. It’s more about courage. It’s about feeling the fear and moving forward anyways. Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one.

I was fearful when I quit my six figure pharmaceutical job to become an entrepreneur. No more steady paycheck, 401k, company car or health insurance. But I did it anyway.

I was fearful when I recently sold and donated the majority of my belongings going on a travel adventure not knowing where the journey would take me. But I did it anyway.

One of my favorite quotes is from Teddy Roosevelt. 

“The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly.”

Courage is getting in the arena being willing to fail and get knocked down and the ability to get back up again and again. It’s having the audacity and ardor to keep showing up.

Being in the arena is what makes a man feel fully alive. Standing on the sidelines playing it safe will slowly spiral us into a state of quiet desperation.

Speaking Into the Heart

I lead a small men’s group called Spiritual Warriors Unite. The favorite part of our ninety minutes together is the last five minutes. This is a time for each man to speak into the heart of each other. Which we don’t do often enough by the way. We look each other in the eye and tell each man “The Spiritual Warrior I see in you is…”

In our last meeting these words were spoken into me that I am starting to wake up to. One man said to me, “The Spiritual Warrior I see in you Troy is fearlessness.” The willingness to be on this path sharing it with others. The other man told me “The Spiritual Warrior I see in you is bravery.”

The message that came out loud and clear is that even though sometimes I don’t feel fearless, it’s about having the courage and inner strength to keep getting back in the arena even if I am covered with dust, blood, sweat and yes sometimes even tears.

True Fearlessness Means Deep Faith

The more I am still and know that God is for me, the more fearless I become. I am learning that true fearlessness means a deep faith in God. 

Having deep faith allows me to show up fearlessly in the world doing the best I can in my humanity while also knowing that I am divine. It’s about being in the dance.

The journey I have been on of taking chances on myself has allowed me to live a better, more authentic and more fulfilling life.

What is holding you back from taking a chance on yourself? What is the fear that is keeping you from getting in the arena? Courage is like a muscle. It needs to be exercised. The more courage we exude in our lives the more fulfilling our lives will be.

“True courage comes when we decide to take a risk without knowing the outcome. It means showing up and letting yourself be seen, despite the risk. When you show up in this way, you open yourself up to joy and connection, but you can only do it by accepting there could be pain.” -Brene Brown

I have discovered in my own personal journey that taking chances on myself is worth every risk.

It’s the ultimate journey of learning to be still and to deeply know God, being willing to be led by Spirit into the great unknown.

Troy Ismir

I help men take a chance on themselves so they can live a better, more authentic, and more fulfilling life.  

Spiritual Warrior

Inner Transformation Coach

troyismir.com

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