The hidden power of courage (backed by brain science)

We all have them.
Those moments when your heart aches so deeply, your body aches too.

It’s all-consuming–physically, mentally, emotionally.
I had one of those moments recently.

A swirl of heartbreak, fear, and frustration – my own, what I was holding for others, and simply what was in the air. It felt crippling. And I noticed how quickly my communication, my choices, and even my sense of possibility started to filter through that lens.

It felt like everything was predetermined.
Like the path ahead had already been written, and I had no agency.

But here’s the thing: over the last month, I’ve been teaching more groups than ever one of my favorite roadmaps rooted in neuroscience and consciousness for shifting ourselves in moments like this – The Seven Levels of Effectiveness® developed by Ann Betz and Ursula Pottinger.

It’s a model I share in keynotes, workshops, retreats, and with leaders one-on-one. And it never fails to catalyze insight, relief, and real change.

So in this moment of heartbreak, I reached for the soothing tools I love: walking in nature, journaling, meditation. And yes – I also felt the pull of “band-aids”: shopping, comfort food… something that might give me the momentary, yet fleeting, joy. But what I really needed was compassion… and then to walk the model.

Because here’s what we know:

The lower states – fear, frustration, hopelessness – are profoundly contractive. They cloud the brain with “dirty filters,” distort our view, and perpetuate themselves in our interactions.

If I pitch a tent there, if I camp out in that energy, it’s not just me who suffers. The people around me feel it too. And the world misses out on my clearest, most generative self.

So I do the work to shift.
First into courage.

And sometimes, courage is as far as we can go – and that’s enough.
Because even courage loosens fear’s grip.

It lifts our gaze.

It lets us finally step out of tunnel vision and onto steadier ground.

Then, when I can, I move into more expansive states – ones that foster connection, creativity, and innovation.

🌿This is the heart of the work I bring into organizations, leaders, and communities.

Because our states are contagious. 

Without awareness, we get pulled into the emotional gravity of others – 

you know exactly what comes to mind.

But with awareness – and the willingness to shift – 

we create freedom for ourselves and ripple effects for those around us.

So I’ll leave you with this:
👉 Where are you feeling contracted in your life right now?
👉 And what might be possible if you shifted – just slightly – toward courage?

Even in the most heartbreaking or complicated situations, that single step can change everything.

This is the work I do with small businesses and Fortune 100 companies alike. And if it’s something you want to bring to your life or your team, I’d love to connect. Because it’s not just powerful – it’s transformative.