50 Shades of Courage

Practise everyday courage

Do you consider yourself courageous? In a world where superhero stories are a normal part of the culture, where does courage for the ordinary person lie? David, in the story of his victory against Goliath, is the closest we come to acknowledge the power of everyday people.

While the story of David and Goliath represents hope, does its prominence build a false interpretation of courage? Does it reinforce the habit of waiting for a big moment that will demand superhuman strength?

Courage is a habit. Before marching up to Goliath with a sling and some stones, David was a man with a track record. Even if no one could see him, he had been practising courage as a shepherd. He fought a bear and a lion with his bare hands when they tried to attack his flock. Shepherds are known to do anything to protect the flock so he probably did much than was recorded. Courage is a habit, not an event.

Begin to notice the little ways in which you can practise it daily. Have that conversation you have been avoiding, speak up at work and share your ideas, and call that friend to apologize for hurting them. Like a muscle, courage grows stronger when you work it. Eventually, when your Goliath arrives, your instinct to act will be stronger than your fear.

Practise everyday courage and one day the world might hear of you.