Courage Is In The Living

We all had it before, that is, during a time when we gained an immense amount of strength in going through the unthinkable.

One might be wondering, “Can we have it again should the time arise once more?”

This article is about courage. The names in this article are purely fictional, but the events described are from real-life scenarios.

 

What is courage

Courage needs to be found

Meaningful relationships

 

 

What is courage

Many people believe courage is intrinsic, as they believe it comes from within. At least we have been taught this way, haven’t we? If we listen to the language we've heard for our whole lives, such as to have courage, to be brave, to take the first step, etc. It all sounds like it is intrinsic.

Perhaps this is why not everyone is able to have courage when the time arises. Because courage is not intrinsic.

Courage is not something that we can just ooze out. It is certainly not something we can discipline ourselves to have. Courage is also neither a habit nor a personality, as these are indeed intrinsic.

 

To understand what courage is, let's start with the definition of courage.

Courage is defined as the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation.

Interestingly enough, we only talked about courage at the time of the aforementioned.

Since courage is only related to such hard times, we can say that it is one of our human ways of reacting to such events. In short, courage is a reaction.

But the question remains: if courage is a choice and willingness of ours, if it is a reaction that we can give, then why can’t we just have it in such times of need?

The answer is because courage is extrinsic.

Contrary to popular belief, courage does not come from within but from others. Instead of trying to cultivate it, we just need to find it.

 

 

Courage needs to be found

Abby has been living with her grandmother for 15 years; she is very close to her, and one day her grandmother passed away. Abby suffers a loss of significance in her life. She is going through agony, and it would be unimaginable if she went through this all alone.

But it is the presence of her close friends that comforts Abby over time; this is what gives Abby the strength needed to move on.

 

Jonathan is an athlete; he injured his leg during a football game. As the injury is severe, his leg requires surgery. His doctor informed him that it would take 11 months for a full recovery, and this devastated Jonathan. Because he will be unable to perform for his team for such a long period of time. In his mind, all the preparation and hard work in prior years ended up for nothing. The worst part is that he isn't sure that his leg will ever be the same again. Jonathan is in excruciating pain, both physically and mentally.

It is the support of his teammates and family during this 11-month period that gives Jonathan the strength to make it through this hard time. As time goes on, he sees that he has to get well not only for himself but for them too.

 

Dom was in danger; he was trapped in the fire of a tall building, where he tried to escape with the pure instinct of survival, but he just could not find a way to escape. When all hope is lost in this heated moment, the helpless Dom recalls that his 3-year-old daughter is waiting for him at home. This is what gives a parent like Dom the strength to go through the extreme, as there is someone waiting for him on the other side.

Because of someone so important, Dom was brave and unwilling to give up. In the end, Dom was rescued by firemen and has been reunited with her daughter.

 

Jeanne is going to college soon, but her life is in uncertainty, because she does not know what’s next for her. She isn't sure what course to partake in, and she worries that she'll regret her choice later on. One evening, her aunt happens to visit Jeanne's home. Perhaps it was timing, so Jeanne decided to tell her aunt of her concern. From the conversation, her aunt learned of Jeanne's uncertainty, and she then told Jeanne this:

“Jeanne, instead of choosing what you would like to study, try to choose what you absolutely do not want to study; cross it all out; the last one that you least like is the choice you will make.”

Her aunt simply gives Jeanne a dose of reverse thinking; as a result, this has put Jeanne in a new light, and Jeanne couldn't thank her enough. It was her aunt who gave Jeanne the needed insight, perspective, and inspiration to turn this uncertainty into a certainty.

 

 

Meaningful relationships

The very strength that Abby, Jonathan, Dom, and Jeanne gained in their own hard times was because of others.

We humans are social animals; it is coded in our DNA. We live for others, too. 

Courage is gained only by forming meaningful relationships. It can be with anyone, as long as it is a meaningful relationship for us.

Employer and employee, teacher and student, brothers in arms, spouse, and friendship are some examples.

When someone has no one but themselves to fight for, this is the strength of survival.

When someone has more than themselves to fight for, this is the strength of courage.

 

Try to imagine this: one day you are standing in your hall of fame, where people come together to celebrate your accomplishments and to celebrate you. You are standing on the stage under bright lights, and the people whom you will be thanking at this very moment are the ones you have meaningful relationships with.

Only you know where this strength of yours comes from.

 

Data:

Social Animals | Encyclopedia.com