Remember the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz? Nervous, fearful, tail-between-his-legs… until he realized he had courage all along. That scene has stayed with me—not just because it’s charming, but because it holds a mirror to those moments when we forget just how brave we actually are.
For many of us in midlife and beyond, courage isn’t about dramatic gestures or leaping into the unknown like a Hollywood hero. It’s more about fully showing up. Telling the truth. Saying yes—or no—when it matters. And standing by the values that shape who we are, especially when the world around us is swirling in chaos.
But, But, But…
I’ve spent years as an executive coach working with senior leaders to put the power of love to work—people who, on paper, have it all figured out. Big titles, bigger responsibilities, and an endless stream of high-stakes decisions. But when you scratch just beneath the surface, often a different story emerges. One of self-doubt. Second-guessing. And a longing for more meaning.
Sound familiar? Whether you’re leading an organization or navigating the next chapter of your life, the same questions come up again and again:
- How do I know what’s truly right for me?
- What if I screw up by speaking my truth?
- What if I no longer want the game I spent decades playing?
Embracing Your Lion’s Roar
From a Buddhist perspective, the “Lion’s Roar” isn’t about dominance—it’s about the fearless expression of truth that arises from deep clarity and compassion. It’s quiet strength. Calm resolve. The kind that grows when you stop outsourcing your compass to everyone else and start trusting your own.
When life throws its curveballs—career shifts, aging parents, crazy politics, identity questions, health scares—our first instinct can be to look outward for direction. But more often than not, the map is inside. Your values. Your truth. Your stillness. And yes, your roar.
Leading Your Life from the Inside-Out
What I’ve learned is this: It takes a special kind of courage to lead your life from the inside out. To let your lion’s roar be heard, even if your voice shakes a little. More often than not, it starts as a whisper: “This isn’t working anymore.” Or: “I can’t keep doing it this way.”
That whisper may be your Lion’s Roar. Acknowledging that whisper may be the greatest gift you can give yourself. Helping you nurture that whisper, I think, is one of MEA’s greatest offerings.
Finding Your Courage: 5 Steps to Lead with Your Lion’s Roar
Here are five gentle and powerful ways, rooted in self-love, to practice value-based courage.
1. Make a micro-courage decision. Say the thing that needs to be said. Decline the thing that doesn’t feel right. Do the small bold thing, today.
2. Notice where fear lives. Not to judge it, but to ask: “Is this fear trying to keep me safe—or small?”
3. Tap into resources. Write down 3 core values. Put them where you’ll see them. Let them guide your choices for a week and notice what shifts.
4. Celebrate courage, especially the quiet kind. Applaud the inner wins: the boundary held, the vulnerability shared, the honesty offered.
5. Practice alignment. Ask yourself in tough moments: “If I were being fully true to myself, what would I do now?”
Remember Your Roar, Even When You’re Scared
When you exercise your courage, you are saying: “This matters.” You’re standing by your values even when they’re not the popular choice. It can be scary because ease and integrity don’t always walk hand-in-hand. However, inner peace and integrity usually do.
So whether you’re navigating a reinvention, embracing a new rhythm, or just trying to be a little more you in a world that keeps yelling “conform!” consider this your reminder: You have a lion’s roar. You have clarity, even if it’s been hiding under a few decades of noise. And you have more courage than you think.
-Moshe
Moshe Engelberg, Ph.D. is keynote speaker and author of The Amare Wave. He coaches successful executives and leadership teams to be the bravest and most authentic versions of themselves, through the Amare Way of profitable, love-powered leadership. For a lively dose of leadership inspiration, subscribe to his free weekly newsletter here. You can also email Moshe directly here. He is a proud MEA alum and Corazon member. Lots of free resources on his website here.