Be Brave
Our focus this week — Aug 13-19: “Be Not Afraid”
Today’s MotD: Be Brave. Once we’ve acknowledged a fear and looked at it, we can now determine, from this place of being present with it, whether it’s a legitimate fear (fearing for our physical safety) or one that’s usually based on some wounded part of ourselves.
For legitimate fear, get to a place of safety…ASAP! For wounded-self or ego-based fear, we’re encouraged to be brave…per Susan Jeffers, PhD: we’re encouraged to “feel the fear and do it anyway”.
I’m reminded of a little known film with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck called “Bounce” (Rotten Tomato critics gave it 53%, audience gave it 35%). Regardless of the reviews, I liked the movie…mainly because of one particular line (and theme): “It’s not brave unless you’re scared”.
If we’re not scared, then it must be something that comes easy to us…thus nothing to fear. However, if there is some fear, then it takes courage to press on forward through that fear.
We’re reminded that throughout our lives, thus far, we’ve overcome many fears…especially with any “firsts” in our lives: the first time driving a car, the first time on a date, the first time baking a cake, the first time working with carpentry tools, the first time riding a roller coaster, the first time giving a speech, the first time taking a test (actually, for me, every test was/is scary), the first time on a job interview, and so on. With all of these things, or things like them, we probably felt some level of fear and yet we proceeded through them anyway. And with each iteration, it becomes easier mainly because we’re reminded that we survived the previous one, so we know better what to expect with the next one.
Being brave reminds us that we are expanding, that we’re growing. Honoring and respecting what the fear is telling us, helps to fuel our courage to move forward anyway.
How about you ? When was the last time you remember being brave ? Do you remember the fear you felt before you proceeded anyway ? Can you make use of that memory to help you be brave with a current fear ?
BTW…Here’s the before…the front and back view of today’s puzzle piece and the pretty ceramic box that holds all my numbers from which I randomly choose each day’s puzzle piece number:
Peace & Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
Creating Mandalas 🔆 Awakening Inner Harmony
ABOUT THE 2025 Mandalas of the Day
Throughout the year, I’ll be building one large (48”x48”) Tibetan-styled Mandala one piece at a time…one puzzle piece at a time, that is. The mandala design and the reversed puzzle side were printed on artist-quality watercolor paper. The forward facing puzzle side was printed on a 48”x48” wood panel.
Each day, at random, I’ll be painting in watercolors one of the 365 watercolor puzzle pieces, that by the end of the year will become Archangel Mandala #4. Read more about the Archangel Series. The word/message for each piece will be inspired by Melody Beattie’s book “52 Weeks of Conscious Contact”.
Ultimately, the message of this mandala is about how we are all uniquely part of the one.
Mandala of the Day 