Courage is the principle that combines love and power. The power element is perhaps the more obvious of the two. When we think of courage, we imagine someone taking bold actions, and action is an expression of power. However, the love component of courage is equally important. Love is the motivational force behind courage. It’s our deepest connections that inspire us to be courageous in the first place. When we feel disconnected, there’s no desire to be courageous, no reason for risk taking, and no call to action.
When your mind predicts a positive long-term outcome but a negative short-term outcome from a course of action, courage is required to bridge the gap. If you want to leave unfulfilling relationship, quit an uninspiring job, or restore an unfit body to a state of health, the long-term outlook may be wonderful, but you can also expect short-term challenges as you transition. Courage is the application of power to break through short-term challenges in order to achieve long-term goals.
Courage is an essential element of conscious living because it enables us to choose long-term gain in the face of short-term obstacles. Without sufficient courage, your default behavior will be to play it safe by favoring false security over purposeful action. Keep working at the stable job even though it doesn’t fulfill you. Remain in the unsatisfying relationship even though you feel dead inside. Accept your lot in life and make the best of it. Go with the flow and don’t rock the boat. Hopefully, the currents of life will pull you in a favorable direction. This is the mind-set of cowardice.
When you disconnect from your core self, you experience fear. When you then refuse to face your fear, you disconnect even more. Fear isn’t something to be avoided. It’s the arrow pointing back to your true self. A good rule of thumb to follow is this: whatever you fear, you must eventually face.
Let’s now explore the four fundamental aspects of courage: heart, initiative, directness, and honor.
* Source: Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina