Courage is found deep within us, in a place we can't name or recognize - nor do we even believe it exists sometimes. It can sometimes be seen by others but rarely do we see it in ourselves. How do we find it then when we need it most? How do we gather it up and put it to work lifting us up, moving us forward or getting us out? Not a simple question to answer and not an easy thing to do.
Too often there are situations, adversaries or individuals who would like for us to stay precisely where we are, keeping us from growing or living our truth. We've all experienced it. All the "isms" in society, all the ways people are discouraged, all the moments we didn't stand up when we felt we should have - they are all part of a system of oppression that exists in so many shapes and forms around us all. That these systems exist at all calls us all to stand up and overcome them as individuals and members of the greater human family. So many people throughout history have lacked the courage and turned a blind eye or participated in the oppression themselves out of fear of becoming oppressed themselves.
Individuals throughout our human story have subscribed to the notion of "if you can't fight 'em, join 'em" and it has caused so much suffering in the world and delayed so much healing. When an individual acts from a place of fear, he strengthens the oppressive systems that must be challenged and overcome. When an individual acts from love, employing courage from his own heart, then the world can be changed and humanity can begin to heal. Because these acts of courage are often taken by individuals, they can feel quite lonely and isolated but rest assured, so many are watching. So many are aware and so many are looking for those who can lead the way. This solitude in courage makes having it all the harder to muster but all the more important to find, employ and act from.
Courage is living according to your own truth, standing up for what you know is right and staying true to your unique path. Since we all have different paths in life, only the Self can recognize the need for courage and then have the strength to make the move that must be made. Others may tell us what needs to be done and their motives can range from pure love and concern to manipulation and power but only the Self can employ true courage and make the change, take the step or leave the situation.
No one else will ever tell you to become who you are. No one else can help you become who you are meant to be. Most people won't even bother to help another grow into who she is meant to be. It's because of all of this that courage is one of those traits we most admire in one another. We revel in the stories of those who overcame the greatest odds. The stories that show us examples of humans living to their fullest human potential. We need these stories so much that they become the lore that propels us to find our own truths and to fight for justice. If courage weren't hard to gather within ourselves, we wouldn't retell stories of Joan of Arc and Jesus and Ghandi. We wouldn't read books about heroes and we wouldn't define our history by a series of wrongs that have been righted and individuals who have done the impossible.
What is quite possibly the greatest thing in the story of Courage in our world is that once one person has found the courage to do what is best, right, good and honorable, we realize that we all benefit from that one individual's inner strength. The story of human courage is as permeating as stories of long-lost loves found and deserving people who win in the end. The difference is that while we all may not have long-lost loves to find or babies to save, we all have a truth to live and doing so takes courage - courage that is within us at all times.
Getting to that courage is something only some people do, but I believe we can all find it. It's just a matter of believing in ourselves, digging deep and then standing up for something true in ourselves. That truth, as long as it is based in love, is greatly needed in the world.
Stand - and act - from your courage. Become who you are truly meant to be. We all need each others' greatest Selves in order to heal so much in the world. It's why we are here. And we're all here for each other.
