Stepping into the 'Zero Zone'

When we're expecting something but nothing seems to be happening, we sense this whisper of fear and doubt: it's not going to happen or you're not ready... But this quiet is precisely the moment to prepare and to center our courage.

I watched an 11-year-old girl on America's Got Talent walk onto a huge stage. She looked small against thousands in the audience. I felt her fear. But when the music started, she gave herself completely - heart, soul and every fiber of her being. Her voice soared, captivating the room. She stepped into the zero zone, where nothing exists except her truth.

Watching her, this really sinks in: Courage isn't the absence of fear -- it's stepping forward anyway. No matter how big the stage or intimidating the audience, your moment is yours. Step forward. Share your heart. Let the world hear your voice.

In life, whatever our challenge is, whoever we have to face, step forward anyway. Take the floor. Give it all to the moment. Trust the preparation. Step into the Zero Zone. The rest, will follow its course, or in fact, really doesn't matter anymore.