Conscious Courage®
Turning Everyday Challenges into Opportunities
Winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award in the self-help category

Do you ever find yourself stopping short instead of moving forward courageously? Do you interpret your fear and other uncomfortable feelings as warning signs to go no further? By reading Maureen Stearns’ book, you’ll discover ideas and strategies that will help you move beyond your fear and hesitation. You’ll find your “buried shout” that says Yes! to the best choices and learn to embrace life every day with Conscious Courage®.

The Random House College Dictionary (1982) defines courage as “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., with a firmness and without fear.”

Other resources maintain that fear is a component of courage — that without fear, there is no courage.

Author Maureen Stearns, who holds an advanced degree in psychology, defines courage as “A deliberate decision to act or think or be, regardless of our emotions and halting thoughts, an actual force that is felt from within that enables us to say Yes! to what we want and No! to what we don’t want. Courage is knowing that all our courageous acts will end up blossoming into something much more significant.”

Thinking about courage often conjures up images of superheroes performing superhuman feats . . . but few people in daily life get the opportunity to accomplish such “larger than life” acts. Therefore courage, as it applies to us in our everyday lives, is experienced on a different level that — while perhaps not as sensational in comparison — is equally challenging to us and vital to our happiness and well-being. Consciously displaying daily courage can manifest itself in many ways, such as . . .

• Standing up in a roomful of people and stating a contrary opinion with conviction
• Not allowing someone else’s negative opinion or attitude stop you dead in your tracks
• Ending a stressful relationship with someone that is causing you discomfort or unhappiness
• Overcoming tragic events by reconciling your pain and distress and moving forward in a healthy way

“Conscious Courage® is a must-read for anyone who wants to truly experience fulfillment in their life. Maureen gently guides the reader through their greatest fears and obstacles by teaching the power of courage. It’s a terrific resource for today’s soul to turn to for guidance and support.”
— Michelle Morris Spieker, author of The Cherished Self

So, in day to day life, being courageous simply means motivating yourself in a positive way when faced with any adversity that has a unfavorable or hurtful impact on you or others or dishonors your own unique personality.

Opportunities for courage exist every day when we listen for their “whispering” presence. If you can learn to recognize and seize these opportunities, you will then get the chance to experience the magic that occurs when you go beyond your normal range of comfort by thinking and acting courageously.

What is this magic? It is the discovery of your best self, the best in others, and knowing you had a part in making the world a better place.