Courage is a quality that exists within each of us, that we have had since before we were born. Think of the courage it takes just to enter this life, just to begin, just to explore the absolute unknown.
And yet we do. Every time we take a step forward, every time we reach into ourselves for assurance that we can overcome an obstacle, or resist a power from without, we’re exercising our natural, divine gift of courage.
As Gurumayi Chidvilasanda has written, “Courage … holds many other great qualities within itself. Strength, generosity, kindness, hope, love, learning, acceptance of life, and gratitude—these are all part of courage.” And so, denying or ignoring this quality that is part of our birthright is denying, too, all the great powers that are contained in it.
How do we tap into our natural courage? It’s as natural as breathing. All we need do is to reach in, find it, and activate its powers.
Sometimes, when life presents obstacles or disappointments, there’s a tendency to retreat. But we possess the courage to overcome the hundreds of fears we face in life that temporarily cripple us, that keep us from moving forward on our spiritual journey.
We can, of course, avoid these fears by playing it safe, by playing our cards close to the vest. But that’s giving in to fear. And one of our main jobs is to overcome the fears that get in the way of our self realization.
What are these fears? The list of everyday dangers is long: Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of humiliation. Fear of being alone. Fear of regret. Fear of success. Each one of them has the power to paralyze us. But that’s no way to fulfill our destiny, our responsibility to better ourselves and develop our positive traits.
Think of a pride of lions. Is there anything more impressive or powerful? Think of the primal, synergistic energy, the proud collection of coiled courage that they share and that emanates from the pride. There’s a certain magnificence in their fierce, intrepid nature and how they hunt in the wild. The reason why the “king of the jungle” occupies his exalted place, and the reason ancient kings wore the skin of a lion when they went into battle, is the fierce courage and implacable pride which are at the lion’s core and which he exhibits, over and over.
We do the same thing when we engage our pride and our courage to survive—an illness, a tragedy, a loss; each requires bravery just to move from a place of powerlessness to one of forward and inward motion. We describe this process as using our instinct for survival, and this is true, but acting upon this instinct involves courage, and the determination to carry on what courage powers: our forward movement in life and the spirit, and the fulfillment of our natural and spiritual destiny.
Love is always with us, staring at us and saying, “Pick me. Take my road.” But it takes courage to let love in, since love opens us up and takes us exactly where it wants us to go. Love is not obligation; it’s ultimate freedom. But freedom also makes us vulnerable. And being vulnerable is when we’re at our strongest.
In point of fact, vulnerability is honest and real and open, so when we’re in that state, we’re in touch with our heart and our true self. Being in touch with ourselves through our emotions is the way we acquire emotional intelligence, a quality that’s the embodiment of courage.
The longer we live, the more we realize that the influence of others is always there. But this influence is too often based upon surface realities, which are often counterfeits of who we really are.
When I look at someone, I don’t see their physical looks or their occupation or personality. I see them energetically. That’s what’s real. And to see this, it takes courage to trust our own feelings and instincts. Whether we’re expressing ourselves or relating to someone else, we must have the courage to trust these instincts, and see beyond the surface.
Being courageous can make us powerful. But this power comes with tremendous responsibility. We’re far more powerful and capable than we realize, and so it is up to us to use that power judiciously and with compassion. And if we exercise our power with responsibility, if we commit ourselves completely to the fulfillment of our true potential, we can have significant impact on the lives of many people, all of whom have the potential of influencing others.
Remember: Tapping in to our natural courage is an instinctive process. And our courage is there, just waiting for us to call upon it.
Christiana McMahon is a practicing, intuitive medium, available for individual readings in person or by phone. She can be reached at 713-412-6254, or online at christianamcmahon@yahoo.com.
on Jun 30, 2008