“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” Eleanor Roosevelt.

Today is the 78th anniversary of D-Day. This military operation was codenamed Operation Overlord. It was the allied invasion of France in 1944 and the greatest amphibious assault in history. It was an alliance of various countries which included Great Britain, USA, Canada and Holland.

It was the start of the mission to liberate Europe from Nazi rule. 156,000 troops were landed onto the French shore. Additionally, 7900 paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines six hours ahead of the amphibious assault to secure the flanks of the invasion area. Sadly 10,000 allied troops lost their lives that day.

Many of the veterans from the mission are now in their 90’s. When I’ve heard their stories in the past, it has occurred to me how brave and courageous these young soldiers needed to be in order to take part in the operation. Some were as young as 16 and were literally stepping into the unknown. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to them for ensuring that we can live in a democracy and enjoy freedom including free speech.

We can learn much from the events in 1944 and it’s so sad that there is once again war on European land, given the conflict in Ukraine. History can provide answers to help heal some of the division, anger and conflict that’s prevalent in today’s world. Much can be achieved when people form alliances, work together to execute a clearly defined plan and collaborate to fulfil a purpose.

D-Day required the soldiers to take a massive leap of faith. They needed to have much courage to do what they did. Courage is a human quality that always impresses and inspires me. It’s the ability to disregard fear, to be brave and act on one’s beliefs. So many Ukrainians are presently displaying much courage in the face of aggression by Russian forces.

I love to read and hear stories about how people stood up for what they believed in despite significant opposition. This could be tales of individuals or groups who persevered when they faced adversity and accomplished something outstanding against all the odds.

We all need courage to try something new and step outside our comfort zone in order to grow and evolve. We sometimes need to be courageous to be ourselves and not follow the crowd.  We also have to be brave to confront inappropriate behaviour and beliefs.

Like the D-Day soldiers and Ukrainian people, there are many stories of people standing up for what they believed in notwithstanding the opposition they faced. Some made significant personal sacrifice and displayed incredible conviction to make a stand and fight injustice. Their battles helped to create more freedom and rights for millions of people to enjoy.

Some examples include the suffragettes who were members of women’s organisations in the UK in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They advocated the right for women to vote in public elections. There was also Rosa Parks in Alabama, USA, whose courage in the 1950s led to improved human rights for black people in America.

Sometimes we need courage to overcome a fear, try a new approach to an old challenge, learn a new skill or take up a new hobby.

Some people resist change because they are scared and can’t picture a positive outcome. They choose to stay stuck in their comfort zones even though they may not be happy with the status quo.

Over the years I’ve come across many people who have resisted taking a leap of faith despite being unhappy and unfulfilled. Some hated their jobs or were bored with their career. Some were unhappy in their relationship. Others felt that life was passing them by and were stuck in a rut.

The main reasons that people stay stuck and procrastinate tend to be because of a strong sense of responsibility to others, fear of failure and stepping into the unknown. Quite often people underestimate their capabilities. It’s quite common for people who have been in a job for a long time to think that they aren’t capable of doing something else.

As well as fear, limiting beliefs, negative thinking and past set-backs can get in our way and stop us being all that we can be.   Our brains sometimes don’t help us positively, as they are designed to keep us safe and comfortable. This can make us risk averse.

There is a famous phrase “If you leap the net will appear.” This can inspire us to take a leap of faith when we’re contemplating change. If we listen to our hearts, have done our planning and know that the change is the right course of action for us, then quite often a magic seems to happen.

It’s incredible that when we fully commit to action, believe in a positive outcome and set our mind to succeed, the world has a knack of conspiring to support us. The right people and circumstances tend to show up at the right time to support us. You may have a dream to visit a new country, write a book, change job, start a new business, begin a new hobby or learn a new skill.

If you feel like you are stuck in a rut and want to step out of your comfort zone, start by making small changes to your daily routine.  Never forget that small actions applied consistently over time lead to outstanding results.

This week, why not take a few moments to reflect and consider what you would start/do if you knew that things would work out positively. What first step will you take to get things moving?

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk