The Month I Borrowed Courage and Why You Can Too.
Courage isn’t always built alone. Sometimes it's borrowed
Can you believe the first month in Q2 2025 is over? I can’t believe it too but hey we keep pushing.
On the bright side, I have been consistent with a monthly newsletter this year; a win 😊
The highlight of my month wasn’t something I planned. It was a surprise birthday party my friends threw for me 😆.
To be completely honest, my first reaction wasn’t excitement; it was panic. Walking into a room full of people, people who love me, triggered a wave of discomfort and anxiety that I wasn’t ready for.
Part of me wanted to disappear, to find an exit, to not be the center of attention. But in that moment, I realized something: sometimes courage isn’t something you summon from deep inside yourself. Sometimes you borrow it.
I borrowed courage from some of my favorite humans in the room; their belief that I was someone worth celebrating. I borrowed courage from the smiles in the room, from the love in the room, from the future version of myself who would look back and be so proud I stayed, from my future self who will look back at the memories and smile .
I didn’t feel brave. But I showed up, I showed up and stayed!
That’s the thing about fear; it tries to shrink us, to convince us that staying small is safer. But when we reach beyond it, even just for a moment, something amazing happens: the world around us expands too. We step into more!
You don’t have to be fearless to create a beautiful life. You just have to be willing to borrow courage when you need it and trust that one brave moment can open the door to so much more than you ever imagined; I randomly still think about my birthday weekend and smile because despite the fear , it was beautiful moment.
I think that same lesson applies to building your career.
There will be moments when you feel out of your depth; applying for jobs you’re not sure you’re "ready" for, speaking up in meetings, taking on technical challenges that scare you a little. It’s easy to think you need to feel confident first. But you don’t. You just need to move forward, even when fear is whispering in your ear.
Borrow courage from your mentors. From your friends. From your past wins. From the version of yourself who knows you belong here/there.
The best careers; like the best moments in life are built by people who showed up, even when it was hard. And you’re more ready than you think.
If you're in that 'scared to move' phase right now, just know that you're not alone. I'm rooting for you.
When was the last time you had to borrow courage? How did it feel? I'd love to hear your story.
Until next time- remember , “The best way out is always through.” - Robert Frost