Courage--What does it take?

According to John Wayne, “Courage is being scared to death…and saddling up anyway.”
 

Think about it for a minute.  How many times, have you been frightened and yet you pushed through to overcome an obstacle, reached a life goal, or simply passed a test.

 

Look around and you’ll see famous individuals who exemplify courage --- Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Steve Jobs and Walt Disney.  Consider families who beat cancer together, children growing up without parents all over the world. Single parents sacrificing to raise children, and adult children adjusting life to care for aging parents. 

 

Simply put, courage is acting not reacting. 

 

Several years ago, my now deceased sister-in-law, Mary Shannon Campbell, introduced me to Miguel Ruiz’s book The Four Agreements.  In reading his book agreement #3 jumped off the page at me. 

It says:  “We have the tendency to make assumptions about everything. ---  Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.’

Wow, “transform my life” that sounded great!  Little did I know how many assumptions I’d need to modify.  Adjusting paradigms, and shift thinking, is simply stated, not easily achieved. It has been a real work in courage. 

Psychology Today’s, August 23, 2013 article by Melanie A. Greenberg, PhD.  In it Dr. Greenberg discusses “The Six Attributes of  Courage”.  First, choosing to act even when we feel fear, following your heart, persevering in the fact of adversity, standing up for what is right, expanding your horizons, and the sixth, facing suffering with dignity or faith. 

Dr. Greenberg states, “Courage is a universally admired attribute. From soldiers to entrepreneurs, writers to explorers, living with courage can help you to define and build the life you want.”

Here is the link to the full article and it is worth the read:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201208/the-six-attributes-courage/comments

So, I want to encourage you be courageous---adjust paradigms, and shift your thinking!