Courage...I Has It

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

~ Neale Donald Walsch

Just a few weeks ago I was walking around in a suit of fear. There wasn’t really a good reason for me to have it on. Life has been difficult in a lot of profound ways lately, but I’m generally good at keeping fear at bay. This time, due to exhaustion and sadness and  not paying attention, I just let fear walk in and take over, cover me from head to toe so I couldn’t make the slightest move without feeling anxious, doubtful and afraid of some unnamed outcome. The Anxiety That Shall Not Be Named. Ugh. Anyhow, I was able to send fear packing. Read about it here, if you like.

Sometimes just the word “courage” makes me feel fear by association. The need for courage means that I'm being called to step outside my comfort zone. It means that I'll have to find courage to do something risky or uncomfortable without having any idea what the outcome will be. It might mean that I'll be facing danger or conflict or failure. Maybe even for a long time. Who wants to deal with that? Not me. Nope. Just forget it. We all have our hot buttons when it comes to fear. Mine are conflict and the possibility of failing other people in some lasting way. I wish life could just be peaceful and happy and the only time I was being asked to step outside my comfort zone was when I needed to diet or do any kind of public speaking. Both are uncomfortable to me, but - judging by prior efforts - neither will have any lasting effect. Unfortunately.

But as much as I dislike facing discomfort or fear, would I really want to give up the need to have courage? Well...no. If I want to live a life filled with color and significance, I'll need a big well of courage from which to draw. If I have to dig deep and find courage it means that there is a hope that I can change something in my life, do something that's very important or meaningful to me, or make a difference in a way that will make the world better in a positive way for myself or someone or something I care deeply about. Needing courage means that there is potential to effect a change. Powerful, isn't it? Courage is power. There are other exciting components to courage. The virtue of courage can be broken down into 4 other virtues:

Bravery , which is the ability to confront fear, danger and uncertainty and intimidation and stand up for what is right, even if you’re alone or in the minority.
Fortitude, which involves determination and persistence; finishing what you start, no matter the obstacles.
Integrity, which involves standing up for your values and beliefs and taking responsibility for your own actions, no matter how uncomfortable, embarrassed or scary it might be.
Zest. Whaaaaat? Yes, zest! Can you believe it? The first three corollary virtues bring up scenes of walking through a firestorm carrying an injured lamb and all the medical supplies needed for the typhoid breakout in my village and leading my sweet son and my injured mother to safety while troupes of evil, invisible demons attack us with flesh-eating worms and buckshot. Whew! [cue scary music]. But zest? ZEST??? Courage needs zest and enthusiasm. When you act with courage, bring along excitement and energy. Get ready to sweep fear out of your way with the back of your hand.

[Scary music screeches to a halt. Cue theme to Indiana Jones.]

The other virtue that inspires courage is Love. We have enthusiasm for things we love. We go to bat for things and people we love. Loving someone or something in a big way gives us courage. I really will walk through fire and brave typhoid and zombies and worms and buckshot to save my son and keep my mom safe.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,while loving someone deeply gives you courage. ~ Lao Tzu

 HOW TO FIND COURAGE - 

Having just had the need to re-find my courage, and since today is Courage Day (according to my April Plan), I will just jot these strategies (also virtue based) down here where I can find them when I next need them. 

ACTION:

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. ~ C. S. Lewis 

Do something. Do anything. Action makes fear shrink. It doesn’t have to be anything huge at first. Just do something! Make a phone call. Go outside and mow the lawn.  Work out. And then do one more thing, and one more. Just keep moving. Action activates courage and deactivates fear.

 FAITH:

Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.

Concentrate on trust and faith instead of thinking about how fearful you are or how you’re lacking in courage. Trust in your abilities. Have faith in goodness. Say a prayer, then know that God has it in hand. Go forward looking at everything that happens as part of an answer to your prayer. Move with confidence. God tells us to be still and know that He is God. He means do not fret or tremble with fear. He is our Father and He will fight for us. Keep on doing what you have to do and have faith while you’re doing it.

TRUTH:

Listen to what you know, instead of what you fear. ~ Richard Bach

Remember that fear is an illusion. If you are safe, right now in this moment, then fear/worry/anxiety are just hanging out being bullies, like the monster under the bed. When fear whispers, “You can’t do it. You’re not enough “ start moving and courage will shut fear up.

GRATITUDE AND SERVICE:

For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

Count blessings, look for beauty, serve others. Gratefulness and beauty bring light. Fear scurries around in the dark, like a cockroach and it hates truth. Serving others – helping in any way at all – reminds me that you ARE courageous and that you ARE enough. Acting on behalf of another helps us act on our own behalf.

JOY:

Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, 

if one only remembers to turn on the light. 

~ Albus Dumbledor in Harry Potter (J. K. Rowling)

Do not isolate! When fear gets big and binding, I have a hard time interacting with other people. Ironically, once I am in the company of loving friends and family, I feel bolstered and supported and always end up more aware of my blessings and abilities. (Choose your company wisely, though. No fear-mongers/condescending shamers/no limited thinkers allowed.) Mainly, get your butt out of isolation and spend some time with loving, encouraging people. (Remember that being deeply loved gives you strength.) And find a way to laugh. A lot. Refill your tank. It's important.

KNOWLEDGE:

We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them. ~ Christian Nestell Bovee

Learn things. When fear crops up it’s usually centered on things we don’t understand well and feel powerless around. Learn about the things you fear most. This takes courage to begin, which is why I have it down here towards the bottom, but knowledge is power if you’re dealing with facts. Don’t look for sensationalist, worst-case studies until you know about all the good outcomes. And don’t just concentrate on learning things about that which scares you, either. Start a journal in which you write down something new that you learn each day that has nothing to do with your dilemma. 2 bags of M&M’s is just too much. ..The new neighbors are professional acrobats! … All polar bears are left-handed...and so on.

BE REALISTIC AND PREPARE FOR A MIRACLE:

If you can see the invisible, God will do the impossible. ~Joel Osteen

Prepare for victory, look for opportunities, look for allies, look for blessings, be grateful. You will get through whatever obstacle lies before you. Be brave and keep moving. Keep praying and keep loving. Just don't stop.

PRAYER FOR COURAGE

Dear God, my Father, who created me and loves me and who is mightier than any problem I can face, I ask that you shine your light in my life so that I can see my way through this circumstance. Let your light illuminate the things I need to see and dispel any shadows that are binding me in fear. Send fear away and hold me up in Your Grace and Strength and Wisdom. Guide my path, dear Lord, and fight for me. In your sweet name, Amen

COURAGE QUOTES:

…And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud 

was greater than the risk it took to bloom. ~ Anais Nin

Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. ~ Victor Hugo

There are very few monsters who 

warrant the fear we have of them. ~ Andre Gide

Perhaps strength doesn’t reside in having never been broken, 

but in the courage required to grow strong in the broken places.  ~ Unknown

Never be afraid to fall apart because it is an opportunity 

to rebuild yourself the way you wish you had been all along. ~ Rae Smith

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; 

courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. ~ Sir Winston Churchill

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice 

at the end of the day that says “I’ll try again tomorrow.” ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and 

I promise you something great will come of it. ~ Benjamin Mee

You can never cross the ocean unless you have 

the courage to lose sight of the shore. ~ Unknown

Courage is looking fear right in the eye and saying, 

“Get the hell out of my way, I’ve got things to do.” ~ Unknown 

Courage is grace under pressure. ~ Ernest Hemingway