Redefining courage
I recently went through an exercise to define my personal values. Before I started, I was quite confident that I knew what they were. But through deep thinking and rigorous prioritisation I managed to surprise myself.
Courage was number two on the list of my 5 items. Not what I expected.
I decided to go one step further and reflect on situations from my life that exemplify courage. I did come up with a pretty long list but I was disappointed.
Where are the heroic deeds? Where are the brave speeches?
Where are the examples of me facing a furious crowd to protect the oppressed?
None of this was on my list.
Fortunately, I have some very smart people around me.
“Why are you looking for something big and monumental? Courage can take many different forms and you don’t have to go to war to be courageous.”
This is so true.
- It took courage to take on a role of Dorothy in Wizard of Oz and perform in front of the entire school and all the parents, while I was more or less paralysed reciting a poem in front of the class.
- It took courage to follow my passion and choose psychology as my main faculty at the university when everyone around me was advising against it.
- It took courage to embark on the hitch-hiking trip from Poland to Gibraltar. But it took even more courage to decide to go back when we were in Toledo (so close!) and things were getting rough.
- It took courage to start my own consulting business when I was made redundant after having my third child.
It takes courage every time we cross our own boundaries. It takes courage every time we accept a new challenge. It takes courage every time we present a different point of view. It also takes courage to choose a path you believe in, against the odds.
It is important to recognise these “smaller” deeds of courage both in ourselves as well as in others.
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’.
Mary Anne Radmacher
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
