Reading about “A Failure of Nerve” isn’t just hard for me — it SUCKS. It sucks because there is so much truth to it. So much of what I lack in life in experiencing more FULLNESS of life, the abundant life of my labor of love, my OPUS at BUILT TO LEAD, is because I shrink back from taking the Productive Actions that will take me there…. SOONER.
When I’m shrinking back it’s because I’m spending way too much time “Rue-minating” (stewing, grinding, sweating, over-thinking, blah blah blah) on exactly how to perfectly orchestrate something I’m never going to perfectly orchestrate no matter long I perfectly procrastinate in putting it off.
The Rue-minating only robs me of TIME….and of CONFIDENCE because it eats away at the very CORE that is the keel of my buoyancy and strength.
So as I’ve been praying about it and talking with the many fellow builders God has put in my life, here’s a twist on “A Failure of Nerve” that is helping me.
Today, God, help me have the courage to do quicker what it is that I know I need to do the way you have shown me to do it. Help me connect the courage I need to the LOVE you’ve put in my heart for WHY I want to take the Productive Action I’m afraid to take. Help me trust that you’re with me, and that NO MATTER THE OUTCOME I will have success as I am faithful to act on what you’ve shown me to do.
A “Success of Courage”. Which even if it leads to QUICK death, ultimately gives me MORE time, MORE life, and MORE confidence in the keel of my CORE. And momentum in the rest of my day to take the next Productive Action with greater clarity.
And a peace that surpasses understanding.
And strength and shoot in my eye to inspire those I am called to build to go and do likewise. This is the essence of what being in a “band of builders” is all about. When Spartans practiced, they trained not just their bodies but even more so their MINDS to battle against A Failure of Nerve through “arosis”, or a process known as “harrowing”. The desired response after being tested in intense training was not anger (which would undo a man on the battlefield) — but laughter back at the recognition of the fear which is at the root of what’s testing their nerve. Followed by choosing to act on the training with A Success of Courage. To simply trust the framework and take the Productive Actions and disciplines they’d been taught.
A Failure of Nerve is the enemy of Flow and the enemy of OPUS. A Success of Courage is the story of the Builder’s Journey. Remember your big dream. Pray and TALK with your fellow builders and celebrate as you take the Productive Actions driven by LOVE not fear.
Together we Improve.
BUILT TO LEAD 