COURAGE

There is a lesson that John Maxwell taught in February of 2013 involving courage that I would like to share a little of with you today. It reminds me we all need to be teaching every day, if for no other reason than someday it may be found, and in the finding it will become beneficial to another. It’s funny when I look at this. You see, while John taught this over four years ago, I just learned it – and so my hope is to put it out there and perhaps add some value to you through it.

Courage is built below the water line. Courage is what lies below the foundation. It’s the work done below the waterline, in a leader’s soul that determines if he or she will stand the test of time and challenge. What’s below your waterline?

I believe courage, is the foundation, of all other virtues. –John Maxwell

There are seven benefits of courage, and here they are:

1. Courage allows you to maximize the potential in yourself – and others. It allows you to give yourself permission to act.
2. Courage sustains you to live a life of few regrets. A life of failed attempts is better served than a life of never trying.
3. Courage allows you to continue to climb as you step up the ladder of life.
4. Courage encourages you during difficult and uncertain times. You will fall down, courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says I will try again tomorrow.
5. Courage propels you to reinvent yourself as often as needed. Think of Steve Jobs and Apple.
6. Courage sustains you to hold on long enough to win. Nothing of value is ever achieved in a day, courage sustains consistent persistence.
7. Courage advances your voice.

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point. -CS Lewis

Today, find your courage. Encourage another (to put courage in), that may be all they need to get through today and may also enable them to find courage in themselves tomorrow.

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