The Definition of Courage

Let’s take a look at the definition of courage.

To me, courage is more about what’s going on between your ears than any physical stunts you may attempt.

Courage is having the conscience to do what’s right even when doing what’s right is painful.

Definition of Courage – Overcoming Life Challenges

It takes courage to go through our lives.

Often, challenges come into our lives just when things seem to be going great.

Some challenges you can take care of relatively quickly. Maybe you already have experience with that type or it’s just a minor “life roadblock”.

Others, however, can knock you for a loop.

There are life challenges that make you wonder, “Why do I even try? What’s the point of living?”

This is where confidence and self esteem come in. This is where you’ve got to dig down and remember who you truly are inside. Let’s look at the definition of courage as explained by Dorothy Thompson:

“Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow.”

Definition of Courage – Integrity

“With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.”
- Keshavan Nair

It’s important to keep your integrity.

It takes courage to stand for what it is you believe in when you’re pressured to do something else. Many times in your life, you’re going to have to expand yourself outside of what’s safe. You’re going to encounter situations where it’ll be easier to betray your morals.

If you can be courageous during those experiences and have the self confidence to be true to yourself, you’ll feel good about yourself.

Definition of Courage – Awareness

Be aware of your fear in unfamiliar situations or times when your integrity is challenged.

Once you sense the fear and are aware of it, it becomes easier to separate your true self from it. Have the courage to feel the fear and then the confidence and self esteem to let it go.

This is all part of realizing your own personal spiritual emergence.

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.”
- Alan Cohen