Episode 233: Little Bites of Bravery - Life Hack

Episode 233: Little Bites of Bravery - Life HackNovember is a set of 3 episodes called 15-minute life hacks. I’m calling the November nudges. Each episode is a quick reminder of a life tool to inspire and help you connect to the world around you as you create your best life story on purpose.Today is week 3 and we’re all about courage. It’s called Little Bites of Bravery. This life hack is about how to tackle the scarier, bigger things in our lives, and Jessica Burrell, owner of Life Amplified is with me for all 3 episodes.Come with us for a quickie. This one’s about taking it one step at a time.Tune into the audio program for my discussion with Jess about the importance of being brave - even in small increments.We talk about things like:What is Bravery? — the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty.I first heard the saying “Little bites of bravery,” from Lady Gaga on her interview with Oprah on May 31, 2022; Your Life In Focus TourLady Gaga started the Born This Way Foundation, (Foundation to support mental health) they encourage courage with “Little Bites of Bravery” She said, “Just be a little braver every day. If you feel like you can’t do something, just go take a little bite of bravery. I promise you before you know it, you’re taking a big ol’ bite of bravery.”Be Brave for 10 seconds. What can I step into for 10 seconds? Think about that...A couple quotes we like on this topic: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ― Nelson Mandela“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” ― Theodore Roosevelt Tune in while I tell the story: The GiantI found this story in the book -Lead with a Story, by Paul Smith. (American Management Association, 2012, Pg 144-145)Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a very bright and trustworthy young woman. Having learned all she could in her own village, she set out to explore the neighboring lands. After some time, she came upon a great city surrounded by a huge castle wall. “Surely I can learn something new from the people here,” she thought to herself. But after entering the city, she found its people too frightened and depressed to share any wisdom. “Why is everyone here so sad?” she asked. One trembling citizen answered, “Today is the day the giant comes.”“Giant?” she scoffed in disbelief. “There’s no such thing as giants.”;“Oh, but there is,” came the response. “He stands over 10 feet tall! So tall, he can’t rightly be called a man at all.”Skeptical, but intrigued, the young woman pleaded, “Tell me more of this giant.”So the frightened citizen nervously explained to her, “Every year, on the same day, and at the same hour, he comes down from the mountain where he lives. He stands at the edge of the clearing and yells, ‘Send out your bravest man for me to fight, or I will knock down these walls and kill everyone inside!’ Each year, one poor valiant soul steps out to face the giant and there he stands, mesmerized by the giant’s enormity and the impossible task ahead. Every year the giant slays the poor warrior where he stands before he even draws his sword. The warrior doesn’t even move. It’s as if he is hypnotized.”Eyes wide with fascination, the woman begs, “Can I see this giant?”“The only way to see the giant,” the citizen explained “is to face him in battle.”“Eager to learn, the woman responded, “Then that is what I will do.”Shortly thereafter the voice of the giant rang through the village and the woman stepped out to meet him.She