Rethinking Courage

This piece was written as a response to a writer from Boy's Life who asked how to advise a boy who wanted to surmount his myriad fears. Although never published, I hope the ideas are worthy for all of us looking to confront life with courage, vulnerability, and grace!-MDA

"You are not lacking in courage, my friend, you are wonderfully human! These common fears are ways we all get to know our relationship to the unknown, which includes both our fear and curiosity about what is hiding in the dark and the understandable anxiety we all face when we think about the potential ups and downs of life. I would actually be more concerned if you didn't have these worries or if you didn't acknowledge them. It takes experience and support to be able to appreciate and enjoy the unknown for all of us and when we have that, we can feel safe enough so that surprises can be enjoyable and not terrifying! This takes practice, patience, and heart, so try not to shame or blame yourself that they are bothering you, soon enough these fears will be springboards for new growth, possibility, and adventure!  

   In the Wizard of Oz, the lion thought, he too, was cowardly because he so often felt fear. He was delighted when he met the wizard who corrected him and showed him that his fear, his 'running away from danger', was also a form of wisdom that most, if not all, people feel as well. The wizard also reminded the lion that courage is not the absence of fear but rather the capacity to keep trying in the face of fear that is true bravery. 

Courage comes from the french word for heart and originally referred to the capacity to speak out loud and share from within your deepest self. In other words, it is about having the inner strength to be able to speak from deep inside yourself, to explore and open up the unknown, and to grow towards finding a creative way of relating to it. By writing this letter, you are already well on your way to the courage you are seeking!"