What Is Courage and How to Find It
“We all hold feelings of hurt, disappointment, grief, and despair deep within from which we desperately seek relief. We repress it, drink it away, or turn to another to make it right.” So starts the verse of the next topic, what is courage and how to find it?
Spaces of Courage
The verse goes on to say that perhaps, rather than cast the pain out or give it to another, we find the courage to touch that oh-so-vulnerable spot, to hold the pain tenderly, gently, with great compassion.
Then, if we can find the courage to invite in a sacred force to embrace those deep wounds with us, perhaps, we will be graced with the ability to befriend our pain and then, to heal.
Courage is the ability to move forward despite fear. Webster defines it as the attitude of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult, or painful, instead of withdrawing from it, the quality of of being fearless or brave.
How do we find it in the midst of emotional pain that we so very much want to brush aside so we can feel better? We make the decision that we will move forward to feel it, despite the pain it brings, believing that by doing so, we will feel better in the end. It is important to show ourselves great compassion while we feel the pain.
In my experience, this has been the case. Yet, it goes a bit further for me, and that involves bringing in a sacred force to share in that pain with me. I ask for the relief from my pain. It seems to work better when I do this.
Standing in the face of something which frightens you may lead you to want to run, and you may procrastinate the action. In those situations, pray for the courage to proceed and that may help you to move forward. Ask yourself, what is the worst that can happen?
Usually for me, it has to do with someone yelling or getting mad at me. Upon further inspection of this, I realize that is probably not going to happen; those are old messages and occurrences from childhood. I soothe that small child who is afraid to move forward and I consciously become the adult, able then to take action.
The origin of this verse and photo is interesting… I wrote the verse verbatim while I was traveling in Baja, Mexico in 2003. I was in acute emotional pain over an unrequited love, and I pulled over to the side of the road and sobbed, as I wrote the words you have read above.
Then, in 2005, I was traveling in the backroads of Colorado and found this gate, with the church in the background. The two fit together very nicely. So you see, the words were written way before I knew anything about the gate. That is the case with three-quarters of the verses and images in the book.
How do you answer the question what is courage? What does it look like for you? How do you find it in the midst of emotional pain when you don’t think you can go on? I invite you to share to be of use to others who are struggling.