Courage: It Lies Within

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”

– Mark Twain

Courage can ultimately be defined as taking action in spite of fear. People cannot be split up into two distinct categories, as either courageous or not. Rather being courageous relies on the conscious decision that you make in a specific moment each and every time you are faced with fear.

            Courage is such an important and interesting quality, characteristic, and value to consider or ponder sometimes.  We often recognize and praise those who show extraordinary courage in situations when it can be considered difficult to do so. We begin calling them heroes and place them on a pedestal for the purpose of setting an example for others to follow. Despite the fact that only a select few are celebrated for their outstanding courageous and heroic acts, courage can be found within all of us. Whether or not we bring it out, demonstrate it, and let it surface is entirely up to us as individuals. We all are required to make this decision for ourselves; it is not one that others can make for us. Some people consistently appear courageous and others struggle with acting in this manner.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about exhibiting courage is that it often depends on the surrounding environment and particular circumstances at a certain time and place. In other words, the specifics of the situation make all the difference in the world. Those who do not often present themselves as courageous beings can, in some cases, be completely transformed by what is going on around them at that precise moment. When given the chance or presented with the opportunity, normal people turn become heroes in the blink of an eye each and every day. We hear about these people and see them on the news all the time. They are the ones being recognized, as they deserve, for saving the lives of others by stepping up during times when most others chose to run away in the opposite direction as a result of being overcome by fear. Now some people would argue that other factors must have played a role in the way that the so-called “heroes” acted. For example, one explanation would be that their body released endorphins, which resulted in them experiencing this rush of adrenaline, allowing them to act with courage. Regardless, they still illustrated bravery and completed a courageous act. Anyone has the capability to do this as well. When you either put your mind to something or just react, anything is possible. Deep down inside of us, lies equally as much courage as there is fear.