Courage: The Key to Growth, Freedom, and a Fulfilling Life: The Third Article in the Series

Courage is an important trait that can significantly impact a person's quality of life. It enables us to break old habits, step out of our comfort zone, conquer new ground, and acquire strengths and skills that can advance us in life.

We feel great satisfaction when we do things that we didn't believe we were capable of. Success is linked to the realization that we are stronger than our fears, and this is possible by recognizing that our fears exist predominantly in our minds and imagination, rather than in actual reality.

It's common to feel afraid of the consequences of making a new decision, expressing an unpopular opinion or apologizing and admitting to a mistake. But in reality, these fears exist only in the mind- there is no real, rational reason behind them.

Most often, a new experience, expressing an opinion, or offering an apology won’t cause any serious harm and the fear will likely prove to be completely unfounded. At worst, it might lead to mild discomfort that quickly passes. Either way, it becomes clear that the paralyzing fear was unjustified, and certainly not worth missing an opportunity over.

People feel good about themselves when they realize their potential and when they tap into their intellectual, emotional, physical, and social abilities to the fullest. Fear prevents us from activating our strengths, while courage empowers us to do so. In that sense, courage holds the key to happiness, quality of life, growth, and renewal.

Breaking Free from Circumstantial Dependence

Every person longs for a peaceful, stress-free life without struggles or challenges. Even Jacob, our forefather, wished to live in tranquility, but, as the Sages say, the turmoil of Joseph "leapt upon him."

We all face our own trials, tests, and difficulties. Sometimes, instead of asking G-d for an easy life, it may be more effective to ask Him for the tools to face the life He has given us- one of the most important of which is courage. Of course we can pray for our hardships to be removed. But we must understand that sometimes, instead of removing the struggle, G-d grants us the strength to face it.

When we fear life’s challenges, we feel weak, but with courage, we come to realize that we are not as weak as we first thought. Courage helps us uncover the hidden strengths within and allows us to discover that the challenge is not as unbearable as it once seemed.

Courage allows us to see reality differently- not only as it is, but as it could be. When our actions are driven by a new perspective- a courageous, empowered outlook- we find renewal, vitality, and inner power we never knew we had.

If we pay attention, we will find that fears create a self-perpetuating cycle. A person who is afraid of public speaking will avoid social situations, stay silent or excuse themselves. Each avoidance causes them to feel worse, reinforces their fear, and guarantees that they will feel the same way next time. This pattern sends a subconscious message to the brain: “You can’t handle this.”

A fearful person therefore continues to become more afraid, making it harder to break the cycle and experience success. The moment they take that first step, muster the courage, and shatter the fear, they will discover that it was imagined. This realization will make it easier next time, and their courage will continue to grow.