Always more grateful for courage. Courage over confidence.
I am always grateful for courage.
This year, I am particularly grateful to those writers, artists, activists, and other public figures whose truth-telling raised the standard for us all.
Today, I celebrate:
Michelle Obama. In two defining moments, she spoke truth to power—her voice strong and her convictions stronger—with the world watching. Deep bow.
Philip Lim. For the example of his honesty and willingness to tell it like it is. In need of creative inspiration? Listen to this live interview, or follow him on Instagram @therealphiliplim.
Alicia Keys. For this moment. This is authenticity speaking. She doesn’t ask for your attention. She commands it.
Grace Bonney. For her determination to encourage open, inclusive dialogue about what it means to create, connect, and find your voice. Last month, I was so proud to see Grace Bonney live as she moderated a fabulous and diverse panel of female creative entrepreneurs featured in her new book, In the Company of Women. This is a great book to gift!
And this brings us to the relationship of courage and confidence.
One of the women interviewed in Bonney’s book is designer + host of the podcast Design Matters, Debbie Millman.
When asked by Bonney what quotation inspires and motivates her, Debbie Millman recounted her own earlier conversation with the writer Dani Shapiro about “the role of confidence in success.” Millman was struck when Shapiro told her "confidence wasn’t as important as courage, and that the action to do something was much more critical to success than the idea that you feel confident about doing it.” Millman added, “the notion that courage is more important than confidence has stayed with me ever since."
In that spirit, I offer you blessings of courage for the season and coming year. Courage to listen. Courage to go your own way, and define success on your own terms. Courage to trust the wisp of an idea and develop it, rather than dismiss it. And, perhaps most importantly, courage to speak up and call out the truth—and that includes calling out both hate and love when you see them—in all arenas of your life.
When you’re looking for confidence, consider tapping courage instead.
If there is anything I’ve learned of late, it’s that courage is a muscle to build. And it begets confidence, not the other way around.
In closing, I’m grateful to you my dear readers for your encouragement, and for the privilege of your time. Onward, together.