Another View of Courage

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’ – Mary Anne Radmacher

Sure, Hollywood wants us to believe that courage is primarily the domain of the well-muscled action hero, but real courage is more like the everyday person who makes a better choice the next time a challenge presents itself.

Someone who doesn’t shrink from those things that need to be done… that (often quietly) insist on being faced.

You’ll create a much better life when you realize – and put into daily practice – the idea that courage is made of two things (primarily):

1) Taking action despite feelings of apprehension, worry or some form of I-just-don’t-wanna (and not attempting to eliminate feelings of fear before doing anything).

2) Not avoiding situations that require action and/resolution to further authentic goals and desires.

Courage is (really) not (just) “slaying dragons” or defusing the bomb one second before it detonates. Those situations are rare and if we wait for them to be courageous we’ll miss so many opportunities to build the “muscle” that is real courage.

So, do that thing you’ve been avoiding… that “thing” that will move you closer to what you really want and who you really want to be.

Similar Posts

  • Listen, Instead

    The best way to persuade people is with your ears – by listening to them. – Dean Rusk There’s a difference between persuasion and coercion. If you persuade, you are either helping someone see a different point of view or to act when they would not have otherwise. To persuade you need trust. Trust is…

  • The Charming Gardners

    Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. – Marcel Proust Who reminds you of your the happiness within you? Notice I took slight issue with Proust’s words and didn’t say “makes us happy?” To really believe that is to give away your…

  • Play Your Cards Right

    Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. – Josh Billings Life is perfect. “Perfect” in the sense that everything happens because of the choices each of us makes, and the combination and accumulation of all of our choices. Things are perfect because they cannot be any other way….