How to Find Courage and Strength During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Disclaimer

The title of the article is not saying, don’t fear Corona, just get out there and be courageous in public. Please read in full to understand the spirit of the message.

What is Courage?

Aristotle said Courage is the first virtue. Without it, there’s no:

1. Speaking up for yourself.
2. Resilience in the face of constant failures and obstacles.
3. Finding yourself in a path no one else has been on.
4. Doing something for the first time.
5. Doing the right thing when everyone else is going with the flow.
6. Learning something new.
7. Picking up the pieces and moving on after the death of a loved one.
8. Forgiving a loved one and picking up the phone to reconnect.
9. Public speaking for the first time and all times.
10. Finding the will to live when all hope is lost.
11. Strength and will to change your mind.

Two Peas in a Pod

Here’s how Fear and Courage are like two peas in a pod. Only when we experience fear, we have a chance to exercise our courage. Too little of it, and we’re irrational. And too much of it, we’re cowards.

For most of us, the fear of judgment and criticism can stop us dead in our tracks. Fear is that feeling, it’s an irrational belief. It’s the belief that we and our intentions are going to be misunderstood.

How To Develop Courage

Courage is a responsibility that we must inculcate in ourselves. So we can do our best to help ourselves to make our world a better place to live in. So we can help others to do the right thing even in the most difficult of times.

• First by understanding our emotions. Self Awareness.
• Next by understanding the purpose of our struggle. Meaning of Life.
• By being honest and true to yourself. Authenticity.
• By aligning your words and actions inspite of pushback from external forces. Congruence.

The Cultural Context of Courage

All said and done, here’s something important about the concept of Courage. The truth is, we’re not even half as courageous as the mythical heroes we read about and our super heroes we see in movies. Similarly, the Western and Eastern cultures have their own thresholds for what acts of courage might look like. In most countries, culture determines to what extent the community goes to in the name of courage. Whether, you’re trying to fight the blues of a global Pandemic, or fighting off a 6th grade bully, or jumping into a pool to save a stranger’s life, or fighting off a cockroach in your bathroom, your courage is yours.

In the end, Courage is a Personal Choice. When was the last time you put a courageous face on?

More Reading

• How to Preserve Mental Health while Battling Cabin Fever: READ HERE
• How to Cut Yourself and Others Some (Corona) Slack: READ HERE
• Using Corona (Down)Time to Upskill and Reskill: READ HERE
• Compassion in times of Crisis and Catastrophe: READ HERE
• Introducing Free ONLINE Classes!: READ HERE
• Agent Double Duty: Parenting in the Time of Covid 19: READ HERE
• On Personal Wellbeing and Pandemics: READ HERE

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