Today's
Meditation:
Are
all of our ideas about what defines courage
mistaken? Can we really have a concept of courage
that doesn't take into consideration the difference
between courage that others can see clearly and courage
that others may never recognize as such? How many
people live lives of courage--through pain and misfortune
and trials--that others never recognize? And how
many people are immortalized in story and song for one or
two acts of outer courage that have resulted in their
deaths? Are they truly not as courageous as we've
made them out to be?
It's
hard to argue with the idea that some acts that are seen
as "courageous" could just as easily be
described as "reckless." It's also hard to
argue that some acts that we see as "cowardly"
turn out in the long run to be the most courageous of
all. Gandhi's non-violent rebellion against the
British occupation of his country comes to mind--many
would say that because he didn't take up arms, he was
cowardly, but in the long run we recognized his amazing
courage--and the importance and effectiveness of his
approach.
If
I were to try to develop courage, I think I'd work on
overcoming my fears. I have fears of social
situations, and I would put myself in more of them to
become less afraid of them. I have fear of some
types of confrontation, and the only way to deal with that
is to put myself in situations in which I'm forced to
confront certain issues. I have a fear of heights,
and I often put myself in situations in which I have to
face that fear. I often back off from the edges, but
that's okay--I back off much less than I used to.
Do
I dare to live? I think I do. I believe that's
the result of not giving my fears too much power in my
life--and I believe that's what Lao-tzu is talking about
in this passage. Are you concerned that others don't
recognize your courage because it's not the kind that
risks life and limb? Don't be--your inner courage is
yours alone, and your life will take shape based on how
true you stay to your courage and how little you bow down
to your fears.
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