#15 | when we need courage
crisis and courage - and what it all means + inspirations, the new formula and AI Prompt to get back on track
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💡 If listening to music helps you focus, you can listen while reading:
Hello, I'm Amanda and I've been on a real emotional rollercoaster lately. It's funny how this happened exactly in the year I chose "courage" as my motto.
Actually, I think it's precisely because I chose courage as my motto.
Reflecting on the things I've avoided due to lack of courage made me confront who I've become. Why do some situations cause me such overwhelming fear? At some point, over the past few years (my theory is during the pandemic), it seems like I forgot how to face life with bravery and what that truly means.
The so-called comfort zone, which isn't all that comforting, became my sanctuary, and my efforts to be brave were confined to situations with minimal risk. And you know what? That's alright. You don't have to be completely fearless to lead a fulfilling life, but it's crucial not to shy away from examining our current circumstances and what we've evolved into, to determine if it aligns with where we truly want to be.
I was exhausted. And still am. I've been avoiding thinking too much about it, just kept pushing forward.
But this crisis can't be avoided, and in trying to deny it, I found myself consumed by deep sadness, which forced me to seriously reflect on the true meaning of courage and why thinking about it brought me an identity crisis.
Courage - noun:
the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery.
strength in the face of pain or grief.
That's what Google says. In simple terms, courage is about facing your fears and staying strong even when things get rough. It's advancing despite the urge to retreat.
But thinking about it, I think courage is also closely linked to our commitment to our values. It's about committing to identify what's essential to us and fighting for it.
Identifying what's essential to us... In this logic, it makes sense to go through an identity crisis when we stop to think about courage. What's the point of being courageous, after all?
We can't be courageous just for the sake of it, we have to be courageous for something, don't we?
It's about valuing what's important to us, and that's where things get complicated because to value, we need to know.
And if we don't know, the energy that courage demands seems like a waste. And we postpone.
Because fear is powerful and real. And it makes sense. Fear is survival, it protects us, it's instinct, and facing it almost seems wrong.
And the more time passes, the more it strengthens what's already there. And fear comes as a consequence, fear of what we might find, of what we still need to learn, of everything we now have to lose.
But courage is also a process, it's like the process of finding yourself again.
Lengthy, delicate, imperfect.
With guilt always there, ready to scream about time, courage, fear, what should or shouldn't be.
And everything requires courage, even being kind to yourself, you know? It takes courage to find kindness in this process. Sometimes, courage demands more than we have to give at that moment, and we need it also to accept reality.
From afar, I admire the courage I had in the past, but sometimes I feel very sad for not being able to be as courageous again with the same ease.
But courage is a muscle we need to exercise. Just like kindness.
Courage is experience.
And one of those that aren't easy, indeed.
I even tattooed "courage" on my chest, but still, it's difficult to feel it most of the time.
Courage becomes more accessible when we have less to lose. Then, the more we gain, the more courage seems to be the act of risking what we already have.
But courage is also an opportunity.
Sometimes we need to grab it. Sometimes, we need to think about what we can gain.
Courage is changing the question from "what can go wrong?" to "what can go right?".
Courage is moving forward even when afraid.
Courage is taking the first step.
Courage is feeling comfortable (or learning to tolerate) in discomfort, in the unknown, in the possibility of making mistakes, of looking foolish.
Courage is easier to write about than to practice. But reflecting on it isn't easy.
But just because it's difficult, doesn't make courage something distant from reality.
Courage is my watchword for this year, and recognising that it's what connects us to our true values, there's no way around it: I'll continue to reflect on it until I feel it alive within me.
Courage. We need to remember it's a possibility.
✨ To be inspired! Things I've seen around...
→ "There's a part of you that's bigger than you. There's a part of you that knows the answers."
→ Blessed be (in portugues - blessed be the last drop that overflowed and made you leave where you no longer deserved to stay)
→ Knowing how to be sad involves many steps (in portugues - recommended by @isagomes.psico)
→ Museum of Endangered Sounds: an online archive of sounds from old technology, like dial-up tones, modems, and lots of nostalgia
⛏️ Biz - The Formula
Recently, I watched a video lesson from Erico Rocha that touched on an interesting concept I'd like to share with you: the "Second Formula". This approach represents a new way of approaching product launches.
While in the Product Launch Formula™, created by Jeff Walker, the strategy involves offering something of value for free before directing to the sale, using mental triggers and many other marketing techniques, in the second formula, the idea is to diversify the products within the sales funnel.
This means including products with different price ranges, from more accessible options to premium products (and especially premium products), as part of the business strategy. Erico emphasised the importance of incorporating launches of low-ticket products, in addition to high-ticket products that do not necessarily depend on launches to generate revenue.
This approach requires different sales techniques for high and low-ticket products. Additionally, Erico suggested the possibility of selling your own time as a specialist, offering mentoring and creating masterminds in your area of expertise, as a way to add value and generate extra income.
In summary, this new launch formula led me to reflect on the importance of varying the types and price ranges of products. I'm excited to explore more about this concept and see how we can apply it to our own business strategies. If you want to learn more, you can check out the full video here (in Portuguese).
🤖 AI Prompt to Get Back on Track
Every now and then we need help to reflect and then take the next step.
💡 Open ChatGPT or your preferred AI and type:
"Hello chat, I'm going through a crisis of identity and feel like I need more courage to face this. Lately, I've been feeling [describe how you've been feeling about your identity]. I feel like I'm lost regarding my values and what really matters to me. Can you help me identify my core values? I'd like to better understand what's truly important to me and how I can have more courage to live according to these values. Please guide me with some questions or exercises that can help me in this process of self-discovery and strengthening courage. Thank you very much for your help!"
📢 Latest Updates Around Here
Going to Brazil always takes me out of routine (and gives me a good life crisis), so there haven't been many news around here, I apologise. Life is made of moments.
But if you want to check my links → My book (: • Instagram • TikTok • Etsy
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Until next time,
With love,
Amanda Oliveira-Telò
My book (: • Instagram • TikTok • Etsy