Courage Before Certainty: A Mantra from the Greatest Women in History
Read time: 5 minutes
Welcome to The Conscious.Me Newsletter. We write for aspiring women leaders and our allies ready to lead with deep presence, power, and purpose. Each week, you’ll get grounded insights, mindset shifts, and micro-practices to help you rise above self-doubt and lead with courage and clarity.
If you’re new here, welcome. Your inner wisdom belongs at the table.
Join 50,000+ readers who read us every Friday.
Bookwises called my first book “A life-changing read that you can turn to when life feels overwhelming.” Join hundreds of readers who have embraced The Conscious Choice worldwide.
| Order the Conscious Choice Today! |
Courage Before Certainty: A Mantra from the Greatest Women in History
There are five words that sit quietly at the beginning of every extraordinary story:
She didn’t know it yet.
Before the title.
Before the spotlight.
Before the world recognized their brilliance…
There was uncertainty.
There was doubt.
There were invisible beginnings.
Indra Nooyi didn’t know she would one day reshape boardroom conversations across the world.
Oprah Winfrey didn’t know her voice would heal millions.
Malala Yousafzai didn’t know her courage would move nations.
Rihanna didn’t know her creativity would evolve into a global empire.
Michelle Obama didn’t know her authenticity would redefine what modern power looks like.
Jacinda Ardern didn’t know her empathy would become a new model of leadership.
Serena Williams didn’t know her persistence would inspire generations far beyond the tennis court.
None of them began with certainty.
They began with courage.
And that distinction matters more than we realize.
We often imagine that confidence precedes bold action. That clarity must come before commitment. That guarantees must arrive before we take the leap.
But history tells a different story.
The women we admire most did not move because they were certain of the outcome. They moved because they were willing to grow into whoever the moment required them to become.
Power does not come from knowing exactly how everything will unfold.
It comes from deciding to step forward anyway.
I know this intimately.
I was uncertain what would happen when I quit my high-flying career in New York. On paper, it looked secure, prestigious, and impressive. Walking away felt irrational. I did not know where the next chapter would lead. But I did it anyway.
I was uncertain when I delivered the pitch for my very first program. I did not know if anyone would enroll. I did not know if my voice would resonate. My hands trembled, but I spoke anyway.
I was uncertain when I decided to write my book. There were moments where I just stared at a blank page. I did not know how it would be received. But I wrote it anyway.
Looking back, those decisions now appear intentional, even strategic.
In the moment, they felt like courage before certainty.
That is the real mantra behind every woman who has changed a room, a boardroom, a country, or an industry.
She didn’t know it yet…
but she was becoming.
Every one of us has a “didn’t know it yet” chapter unfolding quietly in the background of our lives.
The promotion you have not yet earned.
The business you have not yet launched.
The voice you have not yet fully trusted.
The version of you who feels steadier, bolder, more self-assured.
She exists.
She is simply waiting for you to act without guarantees.
Little girls become women with vision.
And women with vision reshape the world – not because they are certain, but because they are brave enough to grow.
So if you are standing at the edge of something right now – a conversation, a decision, a leap, and you are waiting for certainty to arrive first, consider this:
Certainty is often the reward of courage, not the prerequisite for it.
So I’ll leave you with this question:
What chapter of your own “didn’t know it yet” story are you being invited to lean into right now?
IWD “Give to Gain” Month
As International Women’s Day approaches, we’ve been inviting senior women leaders to reflect on why #GiveToGain matters to them – and how they are actively creating opportunities, access, and support for other women to rise.
Here’s what some of them have to say:
“I support #GiveToGain this International Women’s Day because giving opportunities, mentorship, and support helps women thrive and when women thrive, societies thrive.”
– Chitra Byregowda, Head – ESG, Persistent Systems
“I support #GiveToGain by building a stronger ecosystem where women support women and have the power to choose with confidence.”
– Pallavi Malani, Managing Director and Partner , Boston Consulting Group
“I support #GiveToGain by championing women’s visibility as a powerful catalyst for meaningful change.”
– Vyshali Sagar, Government, Policy and Public Affairs Lead, Micron India
Across these conversations, one thing is clear: creating thriving workplaces requires us to actively offer women greater support, opportunities, and visibility.
How are you or your organization contributing to this change? If you are a senior leader who would like to contribute to our #GivetoGain campaign with your Quote, simply respond to this email and let us know.
With warmth and conviction,
Bhavna