Courage is something that everybody wants — an attribute of good character that makes us worthy of respect. From the Bible to fairy tales; ancient myths to Hollywood movies,our culture is rich with exemplary tales of bravery and self-sacrifice for the greater good. From the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz who finds the courage to face the witch, to David battling Goliath in the Bible, to Star Wars and Harry Potter, children are raised on a diet of heroic and inspirational tales.
Yet courage is not just physical bravery. History books tell colorful tales of social activists, such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, who chose to speak out against injustice at great personal risk. Entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Walt Disney, who took financial risks to follow their dreams and innovate are like modern-day knights, exemplifying the rewards and public accolades that courage can bring. There are different types of courage, ranging from physical strength and endurance to mental stamina and innovation. The below quotes demonstrate six different ways in which we define courage.Which are most relevant to you? In the last section, i present an exercise to help you define and harness your own courage.
Feeling fear yet choosing to act: “Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?' 'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him.
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger wOzn you are afraid.
Being terrified but going ahead and doing what must be done—that's courage. The one who feels no fear is a fool, and the one who lets fear rule him is a coward.
Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared. Have the courage to act instead of react.Following Your Heart: Passion is what drives us crazy, what makes us do extraordinary things, to discover, to challenge ourselves. Passion is and should always be the heart of courage.
And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.
“It takes courage ... to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.Persevering in the Face of Adversity: When we are afraid we ought not to occupy ourselves with endeavoring to prove that there is no danger, but in strengthening ourselves to go on in spite of the danger.
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.
Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.
No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!" So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.Standing Up For What Is Right: Sometimes standing against evil is more important than defeating it. The greatest heroes stand because it is right to do so, not because they believe they will walk away with their lives. Such selfless courage is a victory in itself.
Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes. From caring comes courage. Anger is the prelude to courage.Expanding Your Horizons; Letting Go of the Familiar: Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
“This world demands the qualities of youth; not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease.” Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.Facing Suffering With Dignity or Faith: “There is no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bear witness that a man has the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer.” The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances. Until the day of his death, no man can be sure of his courage. A man of courage is also full of faith.
