Courageous Conversations
I lead my life in a way that I speak my mind and say what I think as long as it is: needed, kind, and will elevate the energy in the space. Otherwise, I will not say anything at all. Why I bring this up is that we are halfway through the calendar year and this is a key moment to look at the conversations we may have avoided and most importantly, muster up the courage to have them. Some examples of where to look for these conversation opportunities:
- a conversation that isn’t sitting well — something is left unsaid or what was said wasn’t excellent
- when you know you need to say something that is on your mind however it takes a tremendous amount of courage to do so
- when it is very challenging to drop a conversation replaying in your head. Therefore, it starts creeping into your internal thoughts and your interactions. It is still holding valuable real estate.
Let’s go one step further! How do we know if a conversation or a relationship requires a “courageous conversation”?
The four characteristics of a Courageous Conversation are:
- The stakes are high.
- There is the potential for disagreements.
- Emotions run high.
- There is a desire to avoid having the conversation.
Look at your relationships, finances and vitality and ask yourself: with whom do I need to have a courageous conversation with? And then go ahead and plan those conversations. Today!
Remember, for some of us, the conversations may need to happen with ourselves.
With Grace,
Cecily
