The Courage to Live Free
“The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage.”
— Thucydides
Last week, we talked about how freedom isn’t something you achieve.
It’s something you become.
And this weekend, the United States celebrated July 4th - Independence Day.
Freedom isn’t something we celebrate once a year.
It’s something we choose, quietly, and bravely every single day.
Living free takes something most people struggle with: courage.
Courage to leave comfort and boredom behind.
Courage to choose your own path, even when it feels scary or uncertain.
🌱 Freedom Requires Courage
Courage is a learned behavior.
Both fear and courage are learned.
Fear keeps you stuck and unfulfilled.
Courage moves you forward, even when fear is still there.
Courage is what lets you lead your life from freedom, not fear.
It’s how you build a life that reflects who you really are - not who the world told you to be.
Everyone has to overcome fear.
I’ve had to learn this myself.
After my mother passed away, I realized I was living a life that looked successful - but I wasn’t fully fulfilled, because I wasn’t aligned anymore.
It took courage to step away from the familiar and build a life and business that reflected my truth.
It wasn’t easy. But that’s how freedom works: one brave decision at a time.
And today, I can tell you - I’ve never felt more aligned, fulfilled, and alive.
The only question I still ask myself is: why didn’t I do it sooner? (Fear??)
🧠 Why Is Courage So Hard?
Your brain’s first job is to keep you safe, not fulfilled.
It warns you to avoid risks. It tells you to stay where things feel familiar.
But fear is something we learn. So we can unlearn it.
We are taught from a young age to fit in, to avoid failure, to please others.
And without realizing it, we start living a life that keeps us safe and stuck.
Take Samantha, for example. On the outside, she was unstoppable. She was leading teams, hitting goals, doing everything right. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Success, ambition, and leadership matter. I support it.
But at what cost?
She was exhausted, chasing results and recognition to feel worthy.
But when it came to doing something for herself, she froze because there was no one else to impress.
This time, the decision was about her own happiness, and that felt unfamiliar and scary.
That’s what fear does. It keeps you stuck in a life that looks impressive but feels empty.
Now, Sam is learning to shift that story. She’s starting to ask herself: why not build success and live a life that feels true?
And step by step, she’s choosing courage for herself.
Because remember, before you know it, your life passes you by.
One of the most common regrets people have at the end of life, documented by Bronnie Ware in The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, is this:
“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
💡 How Do You Build Courage?
One small intentional decision at a time. Nothing changes until you do.
Here are three ways to start practicing courage today:
Speak Your Truth (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)
Stop saying yes when you mean no.
Stop hiding your ideas to avoid judgment.
Start expressing what’s real for you with kindness, but also with honesty.
Courage grows when you stop shrinking yourself to fit other people’s comfort.
Take One Small Brave Action
What’s one small step you’ve been avoiding?
A conversation?
A new habit?
Saying yes to something your heart wants but your mind fears?
Courage gets stronger every time you take action before you feel ready.
Surround Yourself With People Who Support Your Growth
It’s hard to be brave when you’re surrounded by people who expect you to stay the same.
Find people who believe in your vision, not your fear.
People who remind you who you are becoming, not who you used to be.
What Would Courage Look Like for You Today?
Ask yourself:
Where in my life am I staying comfortable instead of free?
What brave choice have I been putting off?
What would it feel like to choose courage today?
When you’re ready here are 3 ways I can help you build courage + freedom
1️⃣ The Empowerment Code™
A proven method to help you take your power back, break free from outdated rules, and lead your life with clarity and confidence. ( Enter code at the checkout BREAKTHECODE50- for a $50 off)
👉 Learn more + join here »
2️⃣ Exponential Mindset™
A mindset upgrade for the future.
So you can lead boldly and build a life that excites you.
⚠️ Today is the last day to sign up at the reduced price. The course opens August 5.
👉 Get Exponential Mindset™ here »
3️⃣ Private Coaching
If you want personal support, I only have 3 coaching spots open this summer.
This is deep, transformational work to help you create clarity, alignment, and action in your life or business.
👉 Apply for coaching here »
The Next Brave Step Is Yours to Take
So today I’ll leave you with one question:
What’s one brave step you can take toward your freedom this week?
Share your thoughts!
Val