Real courage is the ability to confront our lives directly. Sometimes that means it gets messy, sometimes it means emotion is involved and sometimes it means we stop “being so perfect” and become real. That is courage. The ability to love your whole self (textures, tastes and edges) enough to be honest about who you are, what you want, what is right and what is wrong for you, regardless of how you are perceived. If in your authenticity, you tire or offend or misstep; at least you were true.
When we are courageous, we learn the difference between truth and illusion. I have never regretted being fully human when I needed to be, regardless of how “pretty it is” to others. Those that avoid such vulnerable moments, probably have the habit of avoiding many things.
True authenticity will tell you who your friends are, who loves you or who does not, but most importantly, true authenticity leaves you with no regrets. I have never felt in my entire life (with all of its changes and transformations) that I missed an opportunity to say, do or express my truth at a critical moment. Because I always knew, that moment would be gone.
Tell people how you feel, say what you need to say, deal with situations with your greatest authenticity. Have courage. That is where a peaceful gut and peaceful mind derive their strength. 