So, a little while ago, I posted about some of the things that I have been able to achieve by facing fear and beating it down. Then, a couple days ago, I posted about some of the times I've faced my fears and still lost. I want to post about the subject one last time.
I appreciate the kind words from everyone, but I want to stress this. The point of all this hasn't been to tell stories about my life or to talk about how brave I am. It's to make this point:
I'm just an ordinary person with physical, intellectual, and emotional strengths and weaknesses. I'm not brave by nature. And that's what I've learned.
No one is brave by nature. Bravery isn't a lack of fear. It's not an ability to compartmentalize fear. It's not some adrenaline surge that helps you overcome fear.
I've experienced none of those.
Bravery is always a choice. A choice to face the thing you're afraid of and act to despite it. You will probably still be afraid the whole time you're doing it, but you keep going.
Generally, people don't have a choice about the fears they experience.
Generally, though, people do have a choice about how they respond to that fear. There are biological factors that play into it, of course, but in the end there's almost always a choice: respect the fear or act despite it.
You can make the choice, too!
.Nevets.
I still say you're one hell of a brave guy.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, Nevets.
~bru
Well said. Still, not many people do what needs to be done for the sake of the deed.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend Nevets.
......dhole
Well said! It's actually something I need to be reminded of regularly.
ReplyDelete:-)
Interesting. Of course, there's brave when you HAVE to do something (an interview; a life-saving operation), and brave when you have a choice (bunjee jumping; jumping in a lake to save a child). In the former, I guess it's how you behave; in the latter, it's the choice itself. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteChoice plays such a role--even when we don't really notice it there's often a choice in the things we do.
ReplyDelete@Bru - Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
ReplyDelete@Donna - Thanks! Hope you're enjoying your holiday weekend!
@Misha - Glad to see you surfacing a bit! :)
@Frances - That's a great point, and something worth thinking about it.
@G'Eagle - So true! And most of the time, I think, we don't realize it.
Nevets, I need to get hold of you. You're the winner of my contest to be a character in the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery. For some reason I don't have your email address. Email me at mmeredith@ocsnet.net
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have bookmarked you to check out new stuff you post.Also visit: Bravery Book for Kids .
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