As kids, we learn about courage at a young age. Whether it be the brave warrior that slays the dragon and saves the princess or the scared child that confronts the monster in the closet, we are taught that courage involves taking on something terrible, no matter how big the fear.
Decades later, this definition remains valid in my mind and in greater society.
That said, what I have learned recently is that courage is a vast construct that applies to a multitude of scenarios and contexts – not just the terrible and horrifying ones.
As I grew up, I started to believe that courage had to co-exist with dire circumstances or with strong negative emotions – severe unhappiness or fear, for example.
Leaving a job or partner was only courageous if the atmosphere was toxic or if you didn’t have a safety net to rely on.
Investing in your health was only courageous if you were staring death in the eye. In my case, I saw treating my eating disorder as courageous only if the illness had taken control.
I didn’t realize that listening to your heart and taking steps to increase your wellbeing (even if it was pretty good to start) is courageous.
Old me felt this was far closer to being selfish than brave.
Old me was wrong.
Merriam-Webster may define courage as the «mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty, » but it is not quite that simple or black/white.
To be honest, this definition could apply to an endless variety of situations…as I now understand it should.
I define courage a bit differently these days. Yes, I see it in the traditional sense – carrying on when life deals you a tragedy or facing your greatest fears. But I see nuances as well. For me, bravery involves taking action when the status quo is comfortable but unsatisfying; listening to your voice whether it is convenient or not.
I see courage everywhere now
- a woman who tries to conceive again after a miscarriage
- A parent who takes a moment for themselves before trying to resolve yet another bickering match between the children
- A satisfied employee entertaining a job offer because of intuition
And yes, a woman who is managing her anorexia but decides to undergo further treatment in order to eradicate the illness completely – to go from existing to living…
This is MY definition of courage; and it suits me just fine.
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