Courage?
You remember the lion in the Wizard of Oz…… he was in search of courage, because he saw his fear as a weakness, he was timid, BUT he wanted to ROAR…..
The Lion had to go on a long and adventurous trip with Dorothy to meet the Wizard of Oz to ultimately find his courage.
When he meets the Wizard of Oz (depending on which book/movie version you remember) he is given a drink labeled courage, or a medal labeled courage that emboldens him.
I’m sure you don’t want to go on a trip with as many twists and turns as that legendary journey in order to find your courage (or heart, or whatever else it is you are looking for). So is there another way to find your courage?
What is courage?
Courage is defined as the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear or vicissitudes with self possession, confidence and resolution.
Did the Lion possess these things all along without knowing it? Of course he did. If you remember the story there are a lot of things that the Lion does long the way that show courage (even if he is inwardly fearful whilst doing them).
Far too often we see courage disguised in public discourse as bravery. It is spoken of in terms of those (hopefully) once in a lifetime instances where someone has to face and overcome a life threatening event were someone is required to do something they did not think that they were capable of.
I remember a quote about this from a fire chief (I can’t find the original source) that said:
“Bravery is a single act often over in seconds, courage is putting on the uniform every day knowing what you may be called upon to do”
Those moments of bravery are what people often mean when they talk about courage, but what the lion, and most of us, do not understand is that
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying “I will try again tomorrow” (Maryanne Radmacher)
What the Lion ultimately realised is that the courage that the Wizard of Oz gave him was only temporary, and that in reality he had the courage within him all along.
Like the Lion each of us has within us the courage to do what needs to be done (even if doing it scares the living hell out of us). Often it is an element of self doubt that prevents us from exercising our courage and stops us from trying again tomorrow.
So how do you be courageous?
I will let author and publisher William Feather tell you;
“here is the secret of inspiration: Tell yourself that thousands and tens of thousands of people, not very intelligent and certainly no more intelligent than the rest of us, have mastered problems as difficult as those that now baffle you”
and when it is put like that…… do you need to roar, or can you quietly whisper to yourself “I will try again tomorrow”?
Related posts:
Sometimes people are confused about being brave and courageous, these two words often mistakenly to have the same meaning not knowing that Bravery is the readiness to face and endure danger or pain while Courage is the ability to do something that frightens oneself.
Mick,
Really enjoyed your musings on this topic, one dear to my heart. I like this idea, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers” (Dorothy Bernard). You mention the lion taking action even when he’s afraid. In a way, courage is a leap of faith. If one takes action with confidence and no fear, it doesn’t really require courage. Only when a task is difficult from a mental, spiritual, emotional perspective, do we need to draw on those inner reserves, what I’ve heard called “sustained effort,” to stand and fight for something we belief in despite resistance or confrontation or danger.
Linda
Thanks Linda,
That was very eloquently put, and I love the Dorothy Bernard quote.
I think that courage is (as Ben said) right there in all of us; we just need to find what we’re resolute about, find what we won’t back down from. Know what really matters to us.
After that it’s a case of making sure you go after it time and again, it may be that no one else ever sees it – but so what?
Also, just wanted to let you know, the following paragraph is duplicated:
I’m sure you don’t want to go on a trip with as many twists and turns as that legendary journey in order to find your courage (or heart, or whatever else it is you are looking for). So is there another way to find your courage?
Thanks Heather….. good point about it not mattering if other people see it or not (and thanks for the notice on the duplication…. off to edit it now)
No problem – glad to be of assistance
Mick,
A lovely post about a remarkable children’s tale reminding us that we all have the courage; it’s just a case of finding it.
I’ve recently watch the original, with our 4 year old grand daughters, for the first time since I saw it when it was released. Stil just a smagical.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Paul
Thanks Paul…. it’s amazing what treasures are hidden in all the good childrens stories..
Though I believe or like to think I have the courage to take risks, conquer my fears and so on, it’s the ‘encouragement’ in words of others that helps me tap it.
Thanks mick
Lees, those words of encouragement really just release what is already in there… I’m sure you are really courageous (your blogging…. you must be…)
thanks Ben, lots of ways of looking at it… but ultimately you’re right we all have it…
The nice thing is courage is in all of us Mick. We just need to find it and tap it.
Love the quotes in this post – especially the one from the firechief