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When you hear the sound of the cannons, walk toward them.
February 27, 2005
Courage is the one human emotion that humbles and moves me EVERY time. That quote, written by Marcel France, speaks to the universally admired virtue of courage.
What is courageous for one person is not necessarily so for another, so the quest for a true definition for what is courage - and what is not - has been debated forever, at least it seems.
As a coach, I am deeply touched when I hear from a client who has stepped out of a toxic situation, experienced great success, overcome a significant challenge, changed a dysfunctional relationship or job, or moved out of a comfort zone or familiar situation that was not in their best interest to remain. For some, it may be something as simple as telling the truth to ourselves about something we're ashamed of or want to hide, or maybe something as difficult as leaving a marriage. What is courageous for one, may not be for another. We all have areas of life where and when we must summon courage.
Courage and fear seem to go hand in hand; you cannot have one without the other. Or can you? Are those who are fearless also courageous? One thing seems sure, however: ultimately, fear has to be faced!
A more common type of courage necessary these days doesn't relate to our fear of physical trauma or our inability to provide or be provided the basics for our existence, such as food and shelter. "Moral" courage is a less tangible type of fear that relates to our fear of others' adverse opinions, of not accepting majority consciousness/cultural norms, and peer pressure. Having moral courage drives a person to do what he or she believes is right, despite fear of the consequences.
The fear that can call upon moral courage takes many forms: fear of job loss, fear of poverty, fear of losing friends, fear of criticism, fear of embarrassment, fear of making enemies, fear of losing status, fear of being alone . literally hundreds of fears we could have.
As there are many variations of fear, there are many dimensions to moral courage, ranging from the social courage of Rosa Parks and Gandhi to the political courage (even if infrequently!) by elected officials. The opportunities to act with moral courage are numerous, and the fears calling for moral courage are as varied as people are.
What about you? What are you facing at this point in your life that is summoning your courage?
As a coach, I help people build the courage to make changes they want in their life, to pursue life goals, to live their biggest dreams. How could a coach help you in your life, at this moment in time? Where does your courage need to be bolstered? Working with a coach can give you the edge, strength, and courage it will take to live the life of your dreams. I would love the opportunity to work with you.
And by the way, I like the idea of the quote, but cannons have been known to be quite dangerous!
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