I Think Therefore I am

This week my virtue is courage, not that I am planning on blogging about every virtue, for each of the weeks but virtue has made me ponder somewhat.

The first thing is that, strangely, every time I think of the word courage, I have a visceral reaction to it. I feel it in my solar plexus. The word makes my stomach flip a little. The more I think of the word, the more uneasy I feel.

Is that because fear and courage are so closely related? Perhaps that is the reason. Perhaps it’s because I don’t feel like I am very courageous, I don’t know the reason but it’s interesting to observe. So far none of the other words have had this effect on me.

I have also found that I haven’t been able to find as many examples of courage because the act seems to be subjective and also seems to sit very close to impulse or stupidity.

I was thinking about situations where people are said to be courageous. For example, someone runs into a burning building to save another person. When they come out, they are often hailed as being brave, however, they often say that they didn’t have time to think, they simply did what was instinctive.

They are said to be courageous, labelled a hero. That’s if the situation ends well. If the situation doesn’t end well there are comments of “acting in haste”, of “rash behaviour”.

Another accepted example of courage is when people are “battling” an illness. Are they being courageous or are they simply in survival mode?

Or perhaps that is the definition of courage; having to look into the face of death and managing to come out alive. For those who are living, the victor seems to be courageous, probably because the average person does not feel like they could face death.

Who knows but for those on the other side? Maybe their idea of courage would be passing over. After all, what a leap, though mostly it’s not a thought that the living want to dwell on for too long.

Initially I thought that I was going to find so many examples of courage because I have to get in my car and drive on the roads of Ghana, and quite frankly the driving is atrocious. I thought all I would have to do was count cars going past, because all of those drivers are being brave too.

Then I realised that I am aware of how treacherous the roads are because I have experience of driving in other countries, where the driving is safer and also, I have taken driving lessons and have passed a test and have years of experience.

Many of the drivers here have not done that, so are unaware of the dangers, so how can they be labeled as being courageous?

As I said, “courage” is most definitely subjective and somewhat personal. Courage is facing fear or being in a life or death situation and overcoming it.

Am I being brave when I get into a car in Ghana? Yes, I am because I feel fear on those roads every day and I conquer it (and give gratitude every time I arrive home safely).

Would you know that if you saw me? No, you wouldn’t. I feel like any time there is fear, there is the potential for courage, and as to whether either exists is totally up to the person experiencing it.

Read more about what I’m learning through the Master Key Experience by clicking here.