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The Courage MapΒ by Franziska Iseli
The Courage Map: 13 Principles to Living Boldly
Buy this book here: https://amzn.to/2yujAzt
Buy The Courage Map Here*Affiliate link
Here is the link to the book:Β The Courage Map – Franziska Iseli
Here is our website link: https://www.tckpublishing.com/
And here is the authorβs website: https://www.franziskaiseli.com/
My Review & Summary
This was a great book.Β It basically chronicles Iseliβs motorcycle trip across the Silk Road.Β Her boldness in undergoing such an amazing feat combined with her knowledge of success made this book a trove of wisdom.Β It was during her motorcycle trip along the Silk Road when she conceived this book, a compilation of 13 principles to help you master courage and live boldly.
The principle are:
- Stories
- Truth
- Intentions
- Trust
- Intuition
- Love
- Kindness
- Imperfection
- Non-Attachment
- Flow
- Playfulness
- Evolution
- Commitment
My Notes
Download my notes: The Courage Map- Notes By Ben Balden
The Courage Map: 13 Princilpes to Living Boldly
by Franziska Iseli
Buy this book here: https://amzn.to/2yujAzt
My Notes…
INTRODUCTION
- Iseliβs Story
- Took a motorcycle trip on Silk Road through Asia like Marco Polo
- This book draws heavily from lessons learned there
- Courage
- Instigator for action
- Best ally for living life fully
- A skill you can learn
- Courage Boundaries = comfort level
- Risks have costs, but they also have rewards
- Courage IS NOT FEARLESS
- Facing fear
- Acting when fear is present
- Courageous peopleβ¦
- Stay true to themselves
- Take more risks => receive more rewards
- Face difficulties head on
- Lead by example
- Facing Fear with Courage
- Going Against the Grain
- Do something AGAINST the norm
- Ask Questions
- Why do we do this?
- Is there a better way?
- What do we need to do to lead a change?
- Donβt AUTOMATICALLY ACCEPT
- Iseli tells her story
- Facing courage of her fatherβs passing
- Courage helping her move through life
- Fear
- Fear is like an alien
- Scary from far off
- Close up less intimidating β get intimate with facing it
- Fear is an emotion
- Fear is safe
- Fearβs Purpose
- Trying to keep you safe
- Fearβs Problem
- Keeps you from reward while keeping you from harm
- Fear prison
- Donβt be a prisoner
- Fear stops action
- Be okay with FEELING fear
- Living Courageously = Taking The Leap Despite Fear!!
- This book β Courage Map β the 13 principles
- Travel Tunes β belief affirmations
- Pit Stops β action steps
- Travel Journal β journaling your journey β you can download her journal here: https://www.franziskaiseli.com/thecouragemap/
- Fear is like an alien
THE 13 PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING BOLDLY
The principle are:
- Stories
- Truth
- Intentions
- Trust
- Intuition
- Love
- Kindness
- Imperfection
- Non-Attachment
- Flow
- Playfulness
- Evolution
- Commitment
PRINCIPLE 1: STORIES
- Everyone has stories they tell themselves
- Stories create a lens you see the world through
- They determine how you live
- Stories can be crafted in a way toβ¦
- Help you -> MORE COURAGE
- Hinder you -> MOER FEAR
- *(This is unconscious)*
- Characteristics of stories
- Conscious choice
- Like a map
- Shape beliefs
- You choose your stories
- These stories design the life you experience
- Many are formed in youth
- Many stories just give us a lot of drama
- The Poop Shower
- Wallowing, grumpy, and negative spirals
- Comes from ourselves β we just hold on to negative narratives
- Comes from others β like people raining on our parade
- Comes from fear
- The Transformation Power of Stories
- Stories >>> Beliefs >>> Influence Action >>> Hardened Habits >>> Influence RESULTS (What we experience)
- Observe your thoughts
- Rewrite your stories
- Take consistent action
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I wrote/write my own stories
- I can change them to support me
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Discover and record your current beliefs (good and bad)
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- What results have come from your beliefs
- What beliefs help you soar?
- What beliefs hold you back?
PRINCIPLE 2: TRUTH
- What is your truth
- Talents, flaws, and all
- Feel safe with you
- Stand in your truth and respect others
- Find your truth
- Core values β internal code
- Guiding principles (e.g. freedom, honor, love, trust, convictionβ¦)
- Whatβs important to you?
- Be true to you
- Only do what you truly want to
- Take a stand for yourself
- Live in your own home β the way you want to
- Be consistent
- Respect others
- Set them free
- Allow others to live their own lives
- Embrace and accept flaws in others and yourself
- Be happy right now, with you, the way you are
- ALLOW others to disagree with you
- Politely agree to disagree
- Respectfully disagree
- Avoid making assumptions
- Appreciate others
- Avoid truth traps
- False beleifs
- Or true beliefs that should not have your focus
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I know who I am, and love and fully accept myself
- I honor who I am and am loyal and consistent in living in my skin
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Record and redefine values. Askβ¦
- What is important to me?
- What makes me happy?
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- Brainstorm your values, what makes you you, whatβs important, and what you can do to live true to you
- Record and redefine values. Askβ¦
PRINCIPLE 3: INTENTIONS
- Everything starts with intention
- Mental creation
- You Choose
- You can choose your journey and your destination
- Choose who you want to be
- Be intentional
- Donβt drift
- Keep and open heart
- Shift your energy
- Influence others (rather than the other way around)
- Intention requires clarity
- Pick your style
- Push yourself (lean forward)
- Align your goals/ destination with your values
- Manage your state of mind (stay calm and content)
- Let the wind blow you in your direction.
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I choose to be intentional
- I design my life, journey, and destination
- I live life the way I want to live it
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Get clear on where you are going
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- Have a clarity exercise about where you are going
- Where are your actions propelling you currently?
- What actions will propel you in your direction/destination?
- Be intentional, choose, and lean into it β make a plan NOW.
PRINCIPLE 4: TRUST
- Trust is important
- Without trust, decisions are likely to be guided by uncertainties and fear
- Trust supports courage
- Three types of trust
- In Yourself
- In your abilities
- Your decisions
- Your actions
- Just assume that you can do it
- In Others
- So many experts and
- Lots of advice
- Most people in the world are kind
- Protect yourself, but β¦ trust in strangers sometimes (especially if the risk is low)
- Assume that people generally mean well
- People step up when they see that you trust them β we all have fundamental needs
- In The Universe βThe Universeβs got my backβ [others might say God, here]
- Have the attitude that forces are working in your favor
- Things will always work out β they always have done so in the past
- If you have this attitude, courage is more accessible & you are more likely to succeed
- Listen to natural clues that things need to change
- Example: uneasy feelings >> sick >> seriously ill β the message grow louder when you donβt pay attention
- Sit in the Eye of the Hurricane
- At the center it is peaceful despite a storm raging all around
- Remind yourself to stay calm
- Emotionally step out of the chaos
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I trust myself
- People generally mean well
- The universe always has my back
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Trust everyone you meet
- When the risk is low, let your guard down and extend your trust β let others in
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- What would happen if you trust your intuition?
- Where do you need more trust in your life?
- What bold decision would you make if you knew the universe has your back?
- When did you trust your intuition or your gut and things turned out well?
- In Yourself
PRINCIPLE 5: INTUITION
- Intuition
- Fully trusting your inner wisdom
- Underlying Philosophy: Somehow your heart and your intuition already know what to do
- Intuition from unconscious mind, which is more powerful, decisive, and faster
- Helps you face fears with confidence
- Pulls on total life experience to date
- In practice
- Your gut feeling
- βSomething is not quite rightβ¦β
- Seemingly random hunches
- Seven ways to tap into intuition
- Tune in and observe β be more self-aware and pay attention
- Connect with your heart β open your heart and mind
- Practice mindfulness β being where and when you actually are
- Embrace solitude β seek out silent moments to yourself
- Make decisions faster β donβt let the conscious mind over think things
- (there were actually 5 not 7)
- Be empathetic β feel the emotions of others (putting yourself in otherβs shoes without judgement
- Results
- Follow the perfect path for you
- Not trapped by what others want
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I trust my hunches
- I listen to my intuition
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Take a day or a week to consciously make an effort to listen to and follow your intuition in making decisions (donβt overthink it)
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- When have you trusted your intuition and it really helped you?
PRINCIPLE 6: LOVE
- Love
- Keep an open heart
- Benefits
- Allows you to make brave decisions and take brave actions
- Experiences are more profound
- Philosophy: Love v. Fear
- Fear leads to negative and destructive emotions
- Love leads to supportive emotions and thus supportive experiences
- How toβ¦
- Connect to yourself β if you love yourself, others will more likely love others, but more importantly, you are in the right frame of mind to face outward and love others
- The heart drop-in: taking a chance and going for it, letting your guard down, and jumping in
- Sit and imagine your heart opening
- Tap into an abundance of energy
- Love is not a pie β it doesnβt divide the more you dish it out
- The Octopus question
- Do your relationships squeeze you in a needy way
- Do they link up with you, pulling you to a more meaningful level
- Feeling all the feels β allow yourself to feel the emotions you experience
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I keep an open heat
- Love is abundant and flows from me
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Consciously open your heart with the drop-in exercise
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- When are you most likely to open your heart?
- When was a time that you opened your heart and had a great experience?
PRINCIPLE 7: KINDNESS
- Kindness comes from open heart
- Application of LOVE
- Creates a positive self-perpetuating cycle
- How
- Start with yourself β be kind to yourself
- Cheer yourself on
- Respond with love and understanding
- Encourage rather than berate
- Respond
- React to others with kindness
- Take a moment to reflect before you react
- Refrain from rudeness
- Look at it with love
- Establish boundaries
- Kindnessβs unintended message β will let you use me
- Take a stand
- You can be kind and not fix peopleβs problems
- You can be kind AND still disagree or disapprove of others
- Understanding
- People are doing the best they can
- Conspire for peopleβs success
- Be the Observer, not the judger
- Pick your flavor
- Respond with unconditional kindness
- Respond with presence
- Respond with playfulness
- Meet people at their level and then lift them up
- Make βAlways Respond With Kindnessβ a habit
- The Solution β Kindnessβ¦
- Opens doors
- Dissipates negativity
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I am kind to me
- I always respond with kindness
- I conspire for peopleβs success (and they conspire for mine)
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- For a time (week or month), intentionally respond with kindness
- Bring your kindness up a level or two
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- When do you struggle with kindness?
- When is being kind easy for you? How can you make that happen more?
- When were you kind and resolved a situation or improved things?
- Start with yourself β be kind to yourself
PRINCIPLE 8: IMPERFECTION
- Striving for perfection
- Nothing is truly perfect
- Perfection is an illusion
- Striving for perfection can hold us back
- Paralyze you
- Donβt wait for the βperfect momentβ to be courageous
- Price for chasing perfection >>> stagnation
- Be OK with being imperfect!!!
- Imperfect is interesting
- Flaw are part of being human
- Redefine what perfect means for you
- Imperfect is memorable
- Fail β Fail courageously
- Avoid the comparison trap
- Compete only with yourself
- We are in this together
- Acceptable perfection aspirations are in tiny moments
- Say, βThatβs perfect!β
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- Itβs OKAY to be imperfect
- Being imperfect is beautiful, interesting, authentic, and valuable
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- For the next week/month β¦
- Say things like, βthatβs perfectβ
- Find joy in being okay with your imperfection
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- How would lowering the bar from perfect to imperfect help you have the courage to start projects
- How can you find greater joy and happiness in celebrating your humanity
PRINCIPLE 9: NON-ATTACHMENT
- Non-Attachement
- Synonymous with detachment
- Powerful challenge
- Donβt be tied to specific outcomes
- (Happiness is not conditional)
- What itβs not
- Doesnβt mean not trying, ignorant, or avoidant
- Not indifferent
- Not unemotional
- Desire
- Having desires is natural
- Detach from desire
- Attachement
- Happiness based on outcome or result
- Possessions, emotions, relationships, ideas, results, or thoughts
- Fear driven
- Antiquated form of motivation
- Non-Attachment Benefits
- Live courageously
- Without fear of the outcome
- You derive happiness from within β not without (the results of some situation)
- Avoid reliving βwhat ifβ scenarios
- Nothing can take your happiness
- How β 3 Steps
- Find Clarity (Know your vision)
- Commit β give it your best shot
- Detach
- Be content and grateful for what you canβt control
- Take what you have and look forward
- Derive happiness from within
- Warnings
- Unmet expectations-donβt expect things and set yourself up for unhappiness
- Instead hope
- Be okay with any progress
- Donβt be afraid to lose everything
- Be okay with it
- Unconditional generosity
- Unconditional giving
- No expectations
- Zero attachment
- Remember
- Remind yourself of non-attachment every day
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- If I lost everything, Iβd be okay
- I give my all and hope for the best
- I can handle anything life gives me
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Play out βWhat if I lost everythingβ episode in your mind
- Find gratitude in what you have
- How could you arise from it
- (Similar to the fear setting protocol)
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- Is there anything you are waiting on βso you can finally be happy?β
- Can you let go of the outcome of everything important in your life
- Can you be happy regardless the results or your situation in life?
- Unmet expectations-donβt expect things and set yourself up for unhappiness
PRINCIPLE 10: FLOW
- Flow with life gracefully
- Donβt fight it
- Find your current and move with it
- The flow principle
- Being adaptive
- Adjusting to constant change
- Leaving room for unpredictability
- Willing to abandon original plan
- Metaphor: surfing the waves of life
- Everything is impermanent (not permanent)
- Embrace vicissitudes
- Donβt fight.
- Donβt bang your head
- Donβt fight the current, use it
- Flow like water
- Welcome the new
- The flow spectrum
- Variety and unpredictability
- Control and structure
- Tolerance, comfort, β¦
- How
- Push gracefully β not drifting, but gently and consistently pushing
- Surrender and then surrender some more β be okay with losing some control to be a part of something bigger
- Be a Chameleon β adapt to feel comfortable in new situations
- Let go of the need to fit in (donβt let go of your authentic self)
- Just adapt to allow others to flow with you
- If it doesnβt fit, EXIT
- Embrace option B
- If option A wonβt work out, go with the next option B, C,β¦
- Embrace your new path with full heart (let go of option A)
- Say goodbye to your inner control freak
- Control = security (certainty)
- Acknowledge the inner control freak, but donβt take it too seriously
- Be Present!
- Savor each moment
- Observe and experience
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- Everything is not permanent
- I flow like water and adapt like a chameleon
- I surrender and embrace change
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- For a period of time (week or month), make a concerted effort to go with the flow
- Live in the moment and appreciate evolution and unpredictability
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- When have you been successful just going with the flow?
- How can letting go of control take you in wonderful new paths?
- What awesome courageous move would you make if you knew that nothing was permanent?
PRINCIPLE 11: PLAYFULNESS
- Playfulness brings lightheartedness
- Make difficult things easy
- Takes the edge off
- Makes courage easier
- Make heavy experiences more digestible
- Disarm the darkest
- How it works
- When basic needs are met >>> we play
- Food, shelter, clothing, safety
- Suggests to the mind good times
- Quashes fears β turns off stress response
- When basic needs are met >>> we play
- How to do it
- Make a joke
- Must be done right or can hurt
- Playful is graceful, charismatic, and intelligent
- Tease
- Look for the funny
- Do it with a smile
- Open your heart without judgement
- Let them know you are not perfect either
- How to balance?
- Itβs the feeling behind what we say
- Say it with a playful heart
- By being playfully blunt, you can communicate messages that would normally be hurtful
- Seven ways how to
- Donβt take yourself too seriously
- Make people feel special
- That sparkle in your eyes (language, smirk, gentle nudge, warm voice)
- A gentle invitation (share your opinion without being preachy)
- Lighthearted seriousness (playfully exaggerate lifeβs dramas)
- Keep a curious mind (childlike, see through new eyes)
- Be playfully unfuckwithable (Teflon β donβt buy into the drama of others
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I donβt take it too seriously
- I am curious
- I see play and enjoyment in everything
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- For a week or so, try looking at everything (serious or not) with a playful attitude
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- How would approaching life with a playful attitude make courage easy?
- What could you do to be playful more often or in more situations?
- How would being playful help you reach your goals?
- Make a joke
PRINCIPLE 12: EVOLUTION
- Evolution allows you to grow and progress
- Push boundaries
- Achieve extraordinary
- Change
- Reinvent yourself
- Uncertainty
- Leave safety β comfort zone
- Choices
- Safe β comfort
- Face fear β goosebumps
- Begin to push boundaries
- Unsafe feeling -> feeling safe
- Courage grows
- Growth happens in difficult times
- Get comfortable with uncomfortable
- That point of departure
- Jump off a cliff
- Yes to feeling fear
- Yes to evolution
- Ideas to help
- Face the difficult conversations
- Break things β throw out old β abandon the broken
- Embrace Contrast β try new things
- 5 Levels of Evolution
- Mental Evolution β train your mind to support you
- Emotional Evolution β mature emotionally
- Physical Evolution β optimize your health
- Intellectual Evolution β expand you mind
- Spiritual Evolution β believe in something bigger than yourself
- The Evolution of Relationships β grow together with someone intimate
- Masculine and Feminine Energy
- In a symphony, each instrument plays an important part
- When both work together, something greater happens
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I am becoming better day by day
- I am comfortable with being uncomfortable
- I am investing in myself
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- For the next week or so
- Get used to facing challenges that force you to grow
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- How can you get uncomfortable in a way that fosters growth in the direction you intend to grow?
- What fears are you shying from?
- What conversations are you putting off?
- What projects are you postponing?
- In what way can you grow today?
PRINCIPLE 13: COMMITMENT
- Commitment
- Follow through
- Turn ideas >> action >> substance in the physical world
- Decide
- Pledge
- Sacrifice
- How
- Identify your goals β get clear on where you are and where you want to go
- Take your pick β narrow your focus (prioritize to very few and cut off the rest)
- Get lucky β patience, practice, and stay the course (the magic of progression will work)
- ZigZag and Course Correct β adjust your direction with integrity
- Play Big
- Make it bigger and more important and impactful
- Be alive
- Let yourself truly free
- Expand and grow
- Impossible is an opinion
- People may tell you your goals are impossible
- See the impossible as a challenge
- Remember, itβs not mommyβs fault
- βParents have your back, but you have to grow your own backbone.β
- You learned lots from parents
- Your parents most likely made mistakes
- Life difficulties happen
- Make the most of it & turn it around if you have to
- Commit to showing up in the world
- Lead with courage
- Expand your boundaries
- Be clear on where youβre going, and where you are taking people
- Be inspiring (lead with your WHY, your purpose)
- Open heart, playfulness, pure intentions
- Live life with more courage
- Travel Tunes (Affirmations for this principle)
- I am committed β I must stay the course
- I accept the impossible as a engaging challenge
- I embrace the zigzags of life with integrity and grace
- Pit Stop (Action step for this principle)
- Commit
- Get clear on where youβre going
- STOP doing everything else
- Travel Journal (Question prompts for this principle)
- Where are you?
- Where do you want to go?
- What commitment will make the most impact in your life?
- What would happen if you completely commit to that right now and unwaveringly hold on to that for your whole life?
THE BEGINNING
- Youβve begun
- Itβs your turn now
- Live the best life
- Live an amazing life by design
- Every day is a chance to be courageous
- Remember what you learned
- Apply your intelligence
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