I was discussing the concept of fear with an old friend a couple of days ago and that informed today’s topic. We all have fears which come in so many forms. I know I certainly do.
“Will I ever find the “one” destined for me?”
“Will my charity foundation ever come to be?”
“Will I find fulfilment in my career?”
“Will I give my kids the best life possible?”
The list is endless. I have come to realize that fear keeps you in a self-created tight box, dictating the actions you take. While I agree that some of the fears listed above are premature, they exist and may never disappear in the course of our lives. The tragic aspect is that most times, the thing we greatly fear may be the one with the least power to affect us. This is where courage comes in as it helps us control our reaction to fear.
Take the fear of never finding a Mr. Right, for instance. Relationships will either work or they won’t. Some may decide to wallow in fear and never experience the thrill of the experience. Of course, this is the safest decision. Another may go for it if it feels right, and give all they’ve got, regardless of any fear for the future that may exist.
This doesn’t apply to relationships alone but in our daily activities as well. Personally, if there is a 50% chance of something I want succeeding, I’ll take that. I fuel up the little courage I have with faith and the intense belief that God will see me through and bless the works of my hands. I believe that one cannot practice true courage without faith.
Courage is not always loud and can be evident in silence. It is neither fun nor safe. In the words of Mary Anne Radmacher, “courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is that little voice at the end of the day saying I will try again tomorrow.” We sometimes make the mistake of attributing courage to the performance of a heroic feat or possession of unique qualities. John Patrick Dhanley said, “I am not a courageous person by nature. I have simply discovered that at certain key moments in life, you must find courage in yourself, to move forward and live. It is like a muscle and it must be exercised, first a little, and then progressively more and more. All the really exciting things that are possible during a lifetime require a little more courage than we currently have. A deep breath and a leap.”
I know it can be downright frightening to leap into the unknown. You wonder why you should apply for that job when you will probably get rejected. Keep it in mind however, if you don’t apply, then you most certainly will be. Understand that with a leap comes risks but it brings rewards too, in ways you can never imagine. Dare to leap. Whenever I take a great leap by faith, I sometimes experience failure but I record successes as well. The important thing is that I did this on my terms without letting fear take the lead.
Just as John said, courage is not a random quality we are born with. It is cultivated and exhibited by ordinary people without capes. I see courage in our daily experiences, in the persistent acts of overcoming psychological and physical barriers. I see courage in not giving up even when the world would understand if you did. Sometimes, it is the silent push you give yourself to keep going, despite the pressure of the fears that exist. It is the self-encouragement despite the challenges that come your way.
Finally, maybe it is time we get angry at fear and cease to cower under its weight. Instead of letting the fear of the unknown suck us in, maybe we can lace up our shoes and begin one step at a time.
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Love,
Diane.
