Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice saying,
“You can do this.”
Over the past week I have had four regular readers of my blog reach out to me with their stories of courage. In each case they mentioned the natural inclination to withdraw and take the easy way out.
Sometimes courage is thrust upon us and we have no choice but to act. One example of roaring courage is from the movie and real life potential tragedy, Apollo 13. The astronauts had no choice but to be courageous.
Other times, far more often I believe, we have a choice in whether we should choose courage or withdraw choosing fear.
In the case of each of these four they could have chosen to withdraw and not involve themselves. No one would have known and the world would have gone on just as it had. But in each case these four recognized there might be an alternative way. It would require some courage on their part. It would require them to step out of their comfort zone and act.
Each of them mentioned something similar. Stepping back and recognizing an opportunity or wondering why no one else was doing something to stop what was going on. Each of them heard these words or something like them,
“You can do this.”
They each listened to the voice and they acted. No one would have known if they had done nothing. Yet, because they chose to be courageous, those in their circle of influence were better because they listened to the small voice.
Do you hear a small voice calling you to action today? Maybe you need to take responsibility for something. No one will know if you don’t, but you’ll know. Maybe you need to be the lone voice of dissent in a meeting this week. No one will know if you don’t, but you’ll know. Maybe you need to say yes to something that scares you. No one will know if you don’t, but you’ll know.
Winston Churchill once said, “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.”
Will you choose to be courageous today?
You can do this.
Do you need a speaker for an upcoming event? I’d love to be that guy. You can reach me at dave@cultivatecourage.com or 952-200-7499.
