Courage
The dictionary defines courage as the quality or state of mind that enables a person to face difficulty, pain, danger, or risk with bravery. In order to live a fearless life one must have the fortitude and confidence one needs to get through challenges. What if this wasn't true? What if courage wasn't always needed in order to achieve what we want, but rather just a way of achieving success?
We're all afraid because life is terrifyingly fragile and fleeting. This fear makes us act cowardly and run away from our problems instead of working towards resolution. The fear of being alone and abandoned by our family and friends weighs on every one of us. Being brave and confronting situations head-on allows us to face the greatest fears in life. Fear gives meaning to our lives, it keeps us from living worthless lives and gives us something to strive for; the overcoming of that fear.
The "courage" I'm referring to here is the courage needed to get what you want, not necessarily in regards to bravery. The quote "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." by John Wayne perfectly summarizes this sort of courage. This type of courage is what gets us through everyday life, from working nine to five jobs, to going on blind-dates.
Overcoming fears is the key to happiness in life, yet it is also the source of unhappiness. The greatest thing about being human is that humans are imperfect and bound to fail at some point in their lives. Fear keeps us from reaching our full potential. But never giving up or allowing fear to hold you back means that you can be happy even if you aren't perfect because you're trying your best and striving towards self-improvement.
To escape fear we need to become courageous. The decision to overcome fear is what creates bravery, not the other way around. A brave person is fearless, yet they still have to make the right choices and take the right action in order to have courage.
Being courageous doesn't mean you have to be fearless, but it is the exact opposite of being cowardly. Being a coward is a choice; it's an act of cowardice. A person who chooses to be fearful has little shame in admitting their fear, and this brings credibility on that fearful individual which they use as "proof" their claims are true.
How bad do things have to get before a person can admit that they're afraid? This is a huge sign of weakness because it shows you won't be able to handle hard situations if life throws them at you. Fear never runs out, it just causes you to make poor decisions or bad decisions, and these decisions will lead you back to where you are now. You'll never escape fear unless you're willing to face it and put an end to the suffering.
You don't have to be courageous in order to live a brave life, but it sure can't hurt. Courage is the only thing that gives us meaning in the little of life we have. Having courage means we'll have the strength to deal with everything life throws at us. Allowing fear to push you down is a thing of the past. You don't have to be afraid anymore, now you can be brave and live your life from the heart– choose your actions knowing that you're making decisions based on truth and knowledge, not blind faith.
Everything in this article is opinion and my experience, there are no rules or regulations when applying this kind of thinking. Also, take these quotes with a grain of salt because they often get misinterpreted. I hope this sparks some discussion and questions about the concept of bravery, courage and living your life from the heart.
– Jason Morey
I've never been more scared in my life. I'm a little bit scared right now to write the rest of this, because I have such a deep feeling that there is much more to this, but in order to see it it's going to take me stepping out from behind my keyboard and taking action. If you're reading this I want you to know that if you desire something and feel like there is someone who can help you reach it then send me an email at [email protected] All information provided will be kept confidential. I want to help people, and there is so much that I can't do by myself.
Thank you for reading, and remember: "It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you're sincere." -Bruce Lee
"Just get behind me! God DAMNIT!"— Jackson "Jax" Teller from SoA The opening lines of the show's 1st episode. What a great show and one that I think everyone should check out. I always try to relate life lessons to things in my life that I like, and this show fits the bill perfectly. It is a show about a family that lives in a neighborhood called the 'flats', which is where everyone is poor and everyone has something against you. They are all looking for escapes from their problems, but no matter where you go, you're still dying. The culture of violence and bloodshed that permeates the show is probably some of the best representation of inner city life I've ever seen. I love everything about this show and it has helped me to realize how much I care about my own community.
I have been able to relate to this show in so many ways. The life Jax leads as president of the club is one that has a lot of parallels to my family's life. My dad has been a part of the motorcycle club life for almost his entire life. I've never seen him without cuts or bruises on his sleeves, he's always wearing leather and he always has motorcycle grease on his hands and clothes. He is constantly busy with club business and trying to solve problems, but there are no easy solutions in that lifestyle. There is always someone waiting to stab you in the back, and just when you think things are beginning to get better, more problems arise. This show really helped me to realize that there are no easy solutions from my past and that I need to push forward and do the things that I know I can do, for my family and for myself.
I hope this article has helped you understand how to live your life with courage and bravery, because without these two things you will be a victim of the world, or worse yet, a coward. With courage comes happiness, with bravery comes greatness. You must learn how to brave your way through life in order to find happiness and reach your full potential.
Jason Morey is a writer at Carpe Diem Creative.
Conclusion: The ultimate reason why anxiety sucks: Anxiety is a virus that attacks you from the inside out. It starts out as an idea, then it gradually grows into something bigger and more powerful, until eventually the fear is so overwhelming that it feels like it's consuming you. You become paralyzed by fear and powerlessness. In the end, anxiety robs you of any happiness or self-confidence you might have had before hand.
While there is no cure for anxiety, there are ways to make your life a lot easier:
Knowledge/Information is Power— Your perception of social situations will greatly affect how you feel in any given situation.
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