The Art of Incremental Courage
How my dog became my coach
Part 1 of Summer Slowdown Series: A three-part series on how slowing down accelerates your leadership growth
Hey yall,
As July winds down and we start thinking about Q3, I'm feeling a collective energy around "getting back to business" as people return from vacations and begin ramping up for fall projects.
However, I won't be going into the fall pursuing goals at a pace and mindset that aren't sustainable or productive. This summer affirmed my approach to reaching my goals, and I have my dog Nemo to thank for that.
This summer, I leaned into slow mornings. What I discovered in those slow mornings and unhurried walks fundamentally changed how I think about courage, awareness, and strength.
Over the next three newsletters, I'm sharing the leadership lessons that emerged when I finally slowed down enough to receive them. Today's lesson? Sometimes the best way forward is to let someone (or something) else lead.
When My Dog Became My Coach
For weeks this summer, I let Nemo take the lead on our walks. Instead of our usual route, he kept trying to guide me toward a more commercial street, which I intentionally avoid. Each time he tried, I kept turning him toward home.
Finally, out of curiosity, I let him lead me a little further. And each day after that, my curiosity was piqued, so we continued on his guided path.
I finally let him lead me across a busy four-lane street. My instinct was to turn back, but something told me to trust his guidance just a bit more.
That's when I discovered he'd been trying to take me to the river.
We walked under a bridge, around the rocks, and down to the water. I hadn't been to the river once this entire year, and here was this gift I'd been missing because I was too attached to my familiar path.
However, the real lesson came when Nemo found the flood wall walkway.
The first time we climbed those stairs, I saw the breathtaking view of the city, and I was literally speechless. But I was also terrified. The combination of awe and fear had me promptly turning back, saying, "Nope, can't do this."
Here's what changed everything: Instead of forcing myself to push through the fear OR giving up entirely, I let myself return each day and go just a little bit further. Each morning, a little less fear. A little more familiarity with the beauty. A little more trust that the path ahead was one I could handle.
Yesterday, I walked across that flood wall with confidence, joy, and curiosity, fully able to receive all the blessings of that stunning view.
The Leadership Lesson: Incremental Courage
As leaders, we often think we have two choices when facing the unknown:
Force ourselves to leap before we're ready
Avoid the challenge entirely
But there's a third option: incremental courage.
Pursuing the unknown without haste (but also without running away)
Building confidence through gradual expansion
Having supportive guides who appropriately challenge us
Taking time to receive the blessings of our journey fully
Slowing down didn't just teach me about courage. It awakened something I'd been missing... (More on that in two weeks)
Think about a goal or challenge you're facing as you move into Q3.
What if instead of forcing yourself to "just do it" or avoiding it altogether, you approached it like my walks to the flood wall?
What would one small step look like today?
Who could be your "Nemo" - that supportive guide who sees your potential and gently encourages you forward?
Speaking of Incremental Steps...
I'm incredibly excited to share that I'm launching my Abuntu Affirmation Card Deck this fall! These aren't just pretty cards; they're tools designed specifically for leaders who want to integrate wellness into their leadership practice.
Each card in the deck follows the five Abuntu principles:
Assess your well-being
Align with your core values
Assemble your crew
Activate your plan
Attune to your inner compass
Today's story connects perfectly with the "Activate Your Plan" principle and the affirmations: "I choose progress over perfection." and “I honor my pace and progress.”
If you want to be the first to know when the deck launches (and get access to exclusive pre-order bonuses), join the waitlist here.
What's one area where you could practice incremental courage this week?
Hit reply and let me know. I love hearing about your leadership journeys.
Here's to choosing progress over perfection,
Tamisha
P.S. - In two weeks, in Part 2, I'll share what happened when I started paying attention to things I'd been missing right in front of me. It completely shifted my gratitude practice and might change yours too.
