The Power of Courage: Moving Beyond Fear and Into Growth

When we approach the topic of courage, it's important to clarify that a courageous person is not someone without fear, but someone who is able to overcome their fears.

Human beings need a sense of certainty. We all want to know what will happen tomorrow, to be sure that we’ll have income, friends, and stability.

Fear, in essence, shakes that certainty and shrouds the future in a fog of doubt. And yet, a courageous person manages to overcome the fear and continue functioning in spite of the uncertainty. They initiate relationships, even though they can’t be sure how others will respond. They’re aware they might encounter rejection or discomfort, but they still choose to take the risk and act bravely despite the fear.

A person must act and do what’s right while recognizing that the outcome is in G-d’s hands, as Malbim interprets the verse in Psalms (57): “I will call to G-d Most High, to G-d who accomplishes for me” meaning: “I call upon G-d because He is the Source, the First Cause of all things, and also the Final One who brings everything to completion.”

Fearlessness

A courageous person can face criticism and discomfort, not because they enjoy it, but because they believe in themselves enough not to be crushed by it. They’re confident that, in the end, the good in them will prevail, even if they’re currently facing harsh judgment. Because they can see beyond the momentary discomfort, they are able to accept the constructive parts of criticism and grow.

Like most human traits, courage is beneficial only in the right proportion. A brave person is willing to take calculated risks where it makes sense- but a person who acts recklessly under unnecessary uncertainty, or where the risk is too high, is acting impulsively.

A reckless person might say whatever they want, to whomever they want, whenever they want, and call it “bravery,” when in fact it’s simply a lack of discretion.

Many people come up with excellent ideas, but abandon them out of fear of failure. They believe they lack the reputation, support, or resources to bring their ideas to life. They may even be correct, factually speaking. But a person with courage can still make things happen without reputation, support, or resources, because it’s the courage itself, and their belief in their idea, that helps them gather what they need.

A courageous person doesn’t wait for outside validation. They are open to constructive feedback and advice, but at their core, they’re moving forward, powered by internal approval and deep alignment with their goals and values. Even when criticized or dismissed, they still move forward.

Giving Ourselves a Chance

There must be a delicate balance. The courageous person believes in themselves but doesn't ignore the potential difficulties or problems along the way.

People usually wish to start from a place of applause and encouragement but we must first take initiative and act with courage, while accepting reasonable risks. The courageous person doesn’t rely on external cheerleading- they are moved by an inner drive.

Optimism doesn’t mean believing everything will always be perfect. True optimism means believing that, in the end, things can and will be good, even while recognizing the obstacles along the way. This differs from the pessimist, who assumes everything will go wrong, or the naïve, who believes everything is already perfect.

In truth, most fears we carry are nothing but illusions. These fears don’t stem from logical analysis but from past experiences or opinions of others that have been absorbed into our thought patterns.

A person might fear forming new relationships because they assume they won’t make a good impression, or that people will mock them. Even if things do go poorly, most people won't dwell on it for longer than thirty seconds. However, when we’re trapped in faulty thinking, we don’t question these assumptions, we simply accept and react to them.

We must remind ourselves of the liberating truth that we are not limited by our past. To break free from past patterns, we must recognize that we are acting today based on yesterday’s experiences, not on actual potential. Breaking this cycle begins with one simple, brave choice, and from there, things get easier.

Learning Courage from Children

Children are often more courageous than adults. If you watch a child at play you'll notice that they’re far more willing to take risks and try new things than most grown-ups.

This is because adults carry baggage- fears rooted in past failures or misinformation. Each past disappointment colors our view of the next opportunity, making it seem doomed to fail.

Children, by contrast, come into each new experience with a clean slate. They don’t carry the emotional debris of past failures. This allows them to look at each situation with fresh eyes, and gives them the courage to try.

Perhaps the key to bravery is simply remembering what it felt like to be fearless, before we learned to doubt ourselves.