Courage Isn’t Having The Strength To Go On

graphic © eminentlyquotable.com | photo – Wikipedia – lic. under CC-BY-2.0

“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.”

There are as many forms of fear as there are many faces of courage. We can be courageous in our own simple ways-a trait essential for a happy authentic life. To borrow Aristotle‘s words: “Courage is the first of human virtues because it makes all others possible.”

One of the key takeaways from this quote is the importance of perseverance. Even when we feel like we don’t have the strength to go on, the decision to keep moving forward can be incredibly powerful. It is important to recognize that our strength may come in ebbs and flows, but the decision to keep going is what ultimately defines us.

The quote highlights the idea that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to push through fear and continue moving forward. It suggests that true courage is not about being unafraid, but about being able to face fear head-on and still take action.

James Hollingworth, under the pseudonym Ambrose Redmoon, wrote, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than one’s fear.” Simply put, courageous people aren’t technically fearless but rather good at managing their fears. The bad news for anxious people is that having the “worry” gene makes fear harder for them to overcome.

In many ways, this quote is a reminder that we all have the capacity for courage, regardless of our physical strength or abilities. It also emphasizes that courage is not a one-time event, but rather a continuous effort to push through difficult times.

Another important aspect of this quote is the idea of self-reliance. It’s a reminder that we all have our own unique journey and that we should trust ourselves and our own instincts. It’s easy to get caught up in the opinions of others, but ultimately, what is right for us may not be what is right for someone else. Trusting ourselves and doing what feels right for us is an important step in living a fulfilling life.

Scott Stossel, author of the book, “My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind”, points out, based on numerous studies, that the susceptibility to anxiety is strongly determined by genes. That is, anxious people shouldn’t blame themselves for being anxious. Several finding have also suggested their high likelihood of developing fears and less chances of overcoming them. Experts in the field state that it’s time to let go of the misconception that those who struggle with anxiety are weak.

Anxious people should be given credit for their small acts of courage, according to psychologists. They tend to carry a larger share of regret and guilt for being anxious, not knowing that anxiety is more of a handicap than a weakness. Experts believe that getting rid of their self-defeating thoughts is their first step towards facing their fears.

In conclusion, this quote encourages us to find the courage within ourselves to push through difficult times and to trust our own instincts. It reminds us that true strength and courage come from within and that even when we feel like we don’t have the strength to go on, we can still choose to move forward.