Leadership Thought #196 – Courage Always Beats The Alternative
Courage or the lack of it, can define a life.
Most people spend too much time succumbing to their fears. They consistently talk themselves out of things because of a fixation with the worst possible outcome. And, in all circumstances, the worst possible outcome never happens or isn’t even a remote possibility. Worrying about something that probably won’t happen chips away at your self-confidence and is a waste of emotional, mental, and physical energy. This fixation on fear also leads to regret, which can develop into despair and bitterness over time. Regularly confronting fear can have the opposite effect. It only emboldens you, making you feel better about yourself.
Last summer, I participated in a wellness program, and one of the first activities was riding a zip line. It involved a steep descent, and you could tell some of the participants were a bit frightened. Several of them opted out of the activity altogether. However, many of them went forward despite their fears. You could see the trepidation on their faces as they lined up to take their turn. I happened to be the second person to go and helped catch folks on the other end. It was a wonderful experience. I had a front row seat to the raw emotion and facial expressions of many people as they finished their ride (and everything turned out okay). In some cases, the feeling was exuberance. In others, it was a relief. In all, there was a genuine sense of accomplishment. Those who seized the opportunity found their courage rewarded.
I view this zip line experience as a symbolic representation of life. There will be instances in every individual’s life where they will run smack into their fears. This fear can arise in both significant and insignificant matters, but in every case, it will feel real to the individual experiencing it. Overcoming fear takes courage, and being courageous always builds character. You add a dimension to your character because you show yourself that you’re capable of things you didn’t think possible. And, stretching the boundaries of what you deem as possible is only ever a good thing.
The people who initially showed real fear during this zip line experience seemed to carry themselves differently at the end. They stood a bit taller, exhibited more bounce in their step, and showed visible relief at having survived unscathed. It was fun to watch. Many challenging things will happen to you in your life. Very few of these obstacles will be life-threatening. Numerous opportunities will arise for you to demonstrate self-enabling courage. Don’t let fear, unnecessary fear, or anxiety hinder your opportunities for personal growth and happiness. Life is too short.
Have courage when it counts, and things will generally fall into place.
Related articles
- The Need for Courage (capacity-building.com)
- Manage Your Fears (capacity-building.com)
- Courage (elenaabrams.wordpress.com)
- Courage is Fear Repackaged (magentaskymedia.wordpress.com)
- Do You Have the Courage to Succeed? (innovativeperformanceandpedagogy.wordpress.com)
- Courage Conquers Fear (intuitivegroup.wordpress.com)
- The Risk of Living Fully (joyofspa.com)
- Is courage made, found or grown? (laurieanichols.wordpress.com)
