Jessica Soroky continues her series Leadership is a Choice.

In stores, on social media and all over Pinterest I keep seeing the phrase “Be Brave”.

Two words. The first couple dozen times I saw them I didn’t think much of it, they were just another motivational phrase someone turned into wall art. Then just wandering through a store I saw yet another framed sign telling me to be brave and all of sudden I realized it has such a deeper meaning.

There are so many reasons we need to be brave, or should I say, there are many things out there that cause us to not want to be brave. There are so many aspects of life from societal pressure to individual influence that can lead us to believe it’s just easier to not fight this one and give in.

Every day I wake up and choose to be me without confirming or compromising to what others may want me to be – I am being brave.

That may sound silly to some but anyone who fully embraces who they are, imperfections and all, no matter what, as they go out into the world and face all the temptations and warnings to conform to what society is used to is being brave.

All of my fellow strong, intelligent, and direct women working in a still very male dominated corporate environment are being brave every time they choose to lean into a conversation and make their voice heard.

I won’t rant about how sexism in the work place is still there. (Yes it’s better than it once was, but just because it has taken a slightly different shape doesn’t mean it’s something we don’t still have to fight daily)

What I will say is that being a strong, intelligent, beautiful, determined, and passionate woman is hard! For those who read and don’t think you fit that description- you do! We are labeled as aggressive, strong headed, stubborn, and too direct when the same qualities in a man are labeled positively. Throw in being young and sitting with executives regularly and I could tell countless tales of when I had to be brave and stand on my own, without fear, and with confidence.

Be brave – make your voice heard, don’t back off, and don’t concede to how they want you to act.

Everyone who chooses to go stand in front of the mirror and strip away all the fronts they have been selling everyone their whole lives and really examine who they are is being brave!

Being transparent to the rest of the world is one thing but being transparent and 100% honest with yourself about who you are is a completely different monster. That takes the kind of bravery I can’t capture in words. That type of confront isn’t intended to create a moment of shame where you stand and pick part the beauty that is you. Instead the bravery comes from seeing the reflection and owning it – “Yes this is me!” If who you are isn’t who you want to be take another brave step forward and choose to change. Right there in that moment – it’s not complex and you don’t need a book or manual to do it – you must simply choose.

I know that’s an annoying comment because you’re now thinking “it’s not that easy – how the hell do I just choose?” I thought the same thing and used to get so frustrated when I was on a call with the community putting it all out there seeking guidance (well let’s be honest I was probably looking for advice) and Christopher would tell me something along the lines of “Let it go – choose different”

“Ughhhhh how the bleep to I just ‘let it go’? If I could choose different don’t you think I would’ve by now???”

There will be a day where you won’t think that anymore, once you see the power and more importantly the ease of letting it go and choosing something different.

Here’s the step by step guide:

1. Identify the thing you want to change – DO NOT judge/evaluate it. It isn’t bad, it is just resulting in something you don’t want so it’s time to get something more optimal.
2. Focus – get rid of the other junk filling your thoughts.
3. Determine how you want it to change.
4. Visualize it in your head, see it, live it in your mind. Focus on that and only that.
5. Believe it’s already true. Declare it to yourself in present tense.

Repeat 4 and 5 over and over in your mind until it is true.

That’s being brave. 

Anyone who decides that they want to live powerful, free, and at choice by practicing The Responsibility Process is being brave.

Taking this journey and defying everything you’ve been taught, reprogramming your mind after your entire life of standard programming is being brave. Standing in a room full of people who don’t practice, who live below the line, and who are completely unaware while you choose to rise above and continue to practice, is being brave.

I’ve said it more times than I can count. This life transformation you are in the midst of is hard – harder than anything I have ever done. It’s hard because it requires dedication, commitment, and intention to truly transform your life. Can you hear it, go through the modules and then call it a day and still get something out of it? Absolutely! Go further, be brave and fight for the transformation you deserve.

When it gets hard and you don’t know how to keep going or you’ve hit a plateau – be brave. Call one of your community members in the program and let us help you be brave. That’s the power in this army of leaders, we don’t leave anyone behind. One of us has been exactly where you are and we will all help get through it.

When the society you surround yourself with makes it hard to be brave – be brave anyway! Anyone who knows me knows one of my favorite motivators is when people think I can’t do something that I am not capable, and I prove them wrong. It takes bravery to take the chance and try, putting you out there and risking failing. If you fail be brave and learn from it, don’t allow it to take your power. When you accomplish it, celebrate it and claim the win!!!

Bravery isn’t born in you, it’s a choice you have.

Choose to be brave!

Jessica Soroky, CSM

Jessica is a Certified Scrum Master with over three years of practice in agile delivery and seven years of team leadership. She is also the youngest participant in The Leadership Gift™ Program and its growing worldwide community of leaders and coaches. After five years of nonprofit development through Nellie’s Catwalk for Kids, Jessica continues her leadership journey in state government, not-for-profit, and private sector leadership studies.