IT’S TIME TO REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE “COURAGEOUS”

For generations, we’ve been told that courage means slaying the dragon.

We’ve come to believe that it’s reserved for heroes who march valiantly into battle, for adventurers who climb the tallest mountains, for astronauts who launch above the stratosphere, for champions who triumph against all odds, and for activists who spark change for those who are suffering.

We admire these people. We quote their words and revere them as role models in our own lives. But because we have yet to slay a dragon, we don’t number ourselves among their peers. We don’t think we are courageous like they are.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from talking with women all across Canada as the Owner and CEO of the Women’s Executive Network, it’s that courage takes on many forms – whether we recognize it or not.

The courage I see around me is the kind that drives us higher while remaining unapologetically rooted in ourselves as we are. That ignores the naysayers as we follow our passionate hearts. That lives with purpose, not regret.

And I believe, if we all look inside of ourselves, we’ll find the same kind of courage, too.

WXN believes this so strongly that we’ve made it our theme in 2021: Stand in RAW Courage. Throughout the year, we’ve challenged women from coast to coast to coast to not only step into the courage they recognize within themselves, but also to do so openly and honestly as radically authentic women.

The stories we’ve heard as a result are powerful proof of what standing in RAW courage means – stories we wouldn’t hear if we didn’t encourage this new kind of brave dialogue about the experiences, journeys, trials and victories that shape us.

I can’t share all of them with you here, but I can tell you about a few from within the WXN community in hopes that you’ll see your own courage reflected in them.

• Dealing with loss – and speaking up about it. Loss can be a difficult thing to talk about, especially when you’ve just experienced a miscarriage. But sharing her story led one member to find a path to healing by opening up the dialogue about her experience. The more she tapped into her courage, the more she made herself vulnerable and shared what she was going through, the deeper the relationships she formed with those around her.

• “Turning it up” instead of “Toning it down.” If you feel pressure to leave bits and pieces of yourself behind when you walk into that meeting, you aren’t alone. One of our members shared with us recently that she felt exactly the same way – in fact, she was even asked by a colleague to “tone it down.” But she went the opposite direction, accepting her individuality and bringing her whole personality – quirks and all – to the table. By doing so, she stopped diminishing herself and developed a thicker skin whenever she didn’t feel welcome or appreciated.

• Speaking up when others can’t. Sometimes the one must stand for the many. During her rise through the healthcare sector – one that took her from remote community to populous city – a leader in Indigenous health decided to do just that. Using her position of privilege and influence, she dedicated herself to bettering the lives of others who didn’t have the same access as she did. It takes courage to speak for the silent, but as she puts it, “If not me, then who is going to say the things that need to be said?”

• Aiming for the small wins. Fear can be overwhelming – so much so, that even brushing your teeth can seem like a monumental task. But courage isn’t about being fearless; it’s about marching forward, despite that fear. For one of our members, the little victories are what matter most, embracing even the smallest moments in her day that take a healthy dose of bravery to face. What’s more, she’s spreading the word, in hopes that more people will do the same.

• Ignoring those who say, “You can’t.” Imagine being told what you can and can’t accomplish. As a person living with disabilities, one member has heard it all her life. But she refuses to let doubters and naysayers deter her from pursuing the path she’s passionate about. Rather, she’s become a stalwart advocate for others living with disabilities, and a champion for equity, diversity and inclusion in all its shapes and forms.

Courage is about facing our fears and anxieties, big or small. It’s about being honest about them, honest with ourselves and honest with others. But just as importantly, it’s about harnessing our power and using it to empower others. Our 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners show us what we can accomplish when we change the way we think about courage (and ourselves as courageous women).

I can think of no better word to describe the actions and accomplishments of these women than “courageous.” And if you see yourself in their achievements,

I encourage you to step into your RAW courage as well.

Sherri Stevens is Owner and CEO of Women’s Executive Network (WXN).