Courage is NOT the absence of fear

This is a summary of my latest video.  If you’d rather watch that, you can do it here.

How do you define courage or bravery?  I’ve heard some people say it’s fearlessness, and while that sounds good, I honestly don’t know anyone who is completely fearless.  Do you?

I do know quite a few people who are brave or have shown courage.  So if they aren’t fearless, what do these people have in common?  They take action even when they are afraid.  Why in the world would they do that?  Sometimes, it is just a survival instinct or reflex.  For example:

• When a mother lifts a car off a child that is trapped underneath, that is clearly reflex, but it takes courage!
• When a soldier goes to a hostile environment.  They’ve been trained for just this moment, and so they do it.
• Starting a new job after being out of the workforce in order to provide for your family is scary, but it has to be done.  If you’ve done that, you are brave.
• When my oldest son died 6 years ago, I got up everyday and continued to live.  That was freaking brave!  There was no other choice really, but it was still brave.

Sometimes, it’s more deliberate.  Like:

• When a police officer goes to work, that shows courage – especially in today’s society.  They don’t just have to fear criminals.  They have to fear that any step they take will be seen as a threat.  Most police officers are called to that vocation to protect and serve others, and it IS a calling, and it takes a massive amount of courage

And, to bring it a little closer to home…

• When you speak your truth, knowing others may not agree, that is COURAGE, my friend.

In all these examples, the people involved were NOT fearless.  They recognize their fear or their resistance, and they do it anyway.  Next time you are afraid to speak up or you’re resisting some change in your life, recognize that fear or resistance and choose whether or not to act from that place of knowing.  My hope for you is that you choose courage.