Tuesday I wrote about taking up an "unresolution"--One Word. Many of you chimed in with a desire to embrace this idea and select a word that for you encapsulates a vitrue or idea you want to grow toward and pursue.
I chose the word COURAGE because it encapsulates what I admire in the most mature people I know. I also chose it in response to an amazing conversation I recently had with my mother after reading something she'd written for her memoirs class. Hearing about some of the tough stuff of my childhood from her perspective made me realize I'm a heck of a lot more resilliant than I ever give myself credit for. Fear makes one forgetful, it seems.
Anyway, as I take steps toward a brave, new me in 2011, I thought I'd share some provocative quotes about fear and courage:
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."
~C.S. Lewis
"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."
~Dorothy Bernard
"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die."
~G.K. Chesterton
"To live with fear and not be afraid is the final test of maturity."
~Edward Weeks
Which of these quotes resonates most with you? Has remembering a past moment of bravery ever given you courage in a tight spot?
Thursday, January 6
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Hmm, the past doesn't give me courage at all. (I actually wrote about this today and a kind of round about way). But the future does. The future for me this year is bright and exciting and I can't wait to sink my teeth in! :o)
ReplyDeleteI guess everything that has happened in my life, has helped build the courage in me to continue on my journey. Not only in writing, but in life. It has prepared me to face the tall walls of scary doubt with a smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I love the quotes.
Courage is fear that has said it's prayers.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a quote I can get into.
I also think that along with courage, faith and hope walk on either side of it. You have to have the faith that you can get through whatever it is and hope that all goes well.
I once heard a quote that said something like.. courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that there's something greater than fear. The quotes you listed are enlightening and so are your words. Many times we deserve more credit than we give ourselves. :-)
ReplyDeleteI giggled at "fear that's said its prayers." That's a good one. I've sort of passed courage and am now in the "if someone doesn't say/do something soon I'm gonna barf"... What's that? LOL! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, girl~
I think that is a great word to kick off a new year, but also a tough one. Because I'm not sure where courage comes from. I don't think it's memories of the past that allow me to be brave or courageous and I don't know what I've done anything in my life that's demanded courage. Hmmm. But I do have nice memories right now of the lion in The Wizard of Oz.
ReplyDeleteI like the Weeks quote. We'll always have one fear or another, but to not "fear" it is quite a success.
ReplyDeleteThese are perfect quotes, Laurel. As I said in your last post, 'Courage' is an awesome word for 2011. May your heart be courage filled, may you live fearlessly.
ReplyDeleteAnd, in the words of Oingo Boingo (also, maybe FDR might have mentioned it...;) "There's nothing to fear but fear itself"
Love,
Lola
I like the Chesterton quote. I've never thought of it that way before.
ReplyDeleteI like "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." i need some of that this year as i go from city girl in Arizona to country girl in Montana in 8 months.
ReplyDelete"Courage is fear that has said its prayers." This one struck me the most, but I love all of them. The first thing that came to my mind is that God doesn't give us a spirit of fear and when fear strikes, I pray. Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDelete"...to live with fear and not be afraid" resonated with me. I have struggled with anxiety, yet now that I have baby Stella I know that I have to be stronger than my fear and portray sturdy, "I'm here for you, and we're okay," vibes for her sake. They say it takes a village to raise a child -- it also takes COURAGE.
ReplyDeleteWonderful quotes. Courage seems to be the theme for this coming year. Honestly, I think the act of living takes courage.
ReplyDeleteI've had my share of hard knocks. However, the one that took the most courage and resilience is going deaf six years ago this month.
Whenever I falter and question my abilities to face my fears, I remember facing the one fear I thought impossible. If I can conquer that fear, everything else becomes stepping stones.
Another quote on fear I found recently is:
“To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose one self.” - Soren Kierkegaard
May we all find our courageous way into this new year. (Hugs)Indigo
Jessica: May your future prove bright as you pursue it with zest.
ReplyDeleteChristine: Knowing one has survived tough things should help us face new trials with less fear.
Anne: Lovely, isn't it? And I adore your picture of courage walking with faith and hope. So true!
Jade: Having the right kind of vision can help, can't it? As you say, seeing what's bigger than our fears, and seeing the strength we do have can help us find our courage.
Courage is fear that has said its prayers - I love that! Great quotes! I think my one-word unresolution for the year is Consistency. Or maybe Focus.
ReplyDeleteLeigh: Fear saying its prayers says to me that a piece of courage is having trust that God's with us no matter what.
ReplyDeleteMelissa: The cowardly lion! :-) He learned that all along he was more courageous than he gave himself credit for. Love it.
Joanne: Exactly--and I know people like this, who face fearsome things without flinching. They are indeed the mature ones to emulate.
Lola: Many thanks! It helps knowing my peeps are cheering me on.
Angela: It's on that edge of greatest risk that we're most alive.
ReplyDeleteMichelle: The biggest risks also often come with the biggest rewards. Wishing you prayerful courage as you face this transition.
Kelly: And your quote reminds me of the Phil. 4:6-7 about not being anxious, but instead offering your fears to God, who will give peace that surpasses understanding.
Amber: Parenthood is a supreme test of courage, but your love for your daughter will empower you to dig into a well of strength that's deeper than you ever dreamed possible. The Weeks quote does capture that so well.
ReplyDeleteIndigo: That idea of stepping stones is so lovely. Every time one overcomes something difficult, there's forward movement. Here's to a courageous 2011!
Margo: both of your possibilities sound great. Hope your consistent focus in 2011 bears good fruit.
Courage is a perfect word for a new year. I think I will have to embrace it myself. This year will be amazing in so many ways, but I know it will bring some moments that will make me want to turn back.
ReplyDeleteCourage and I aren't good friends :c
ReplyDeleteLove it. My favorite courage quote is:
ReplyDelete"Courage is what is takes to stand up. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
~ Unknown
The last one is the best fit for me. Each year I hope be a little more courageous than the last.
ReplyDeleteCourage is doing the right thing in a world that no longer knows the difference between right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteAll of these quotes are beautiful and resonate with me. Courage is something I would like to cultivate more of. This is my favorite quote: "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die."
ReplyDelete~G.K. Chesterton
So true! Thanks for sharing :)
The Chesterton quote resonates the most with me, although I find all of them interesting ideas on what courage is.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! I have a tile that I display which reads: "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." e.e. cummings
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic word to aspire to!
"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."
ReplyDelete~Dorothy Bernard
Love that one!
As usual, C.S. Lewis speaks to me! Thanks for the inspirational ONE WORD post - I'm still thinking about it! :)
ReplyDeleteCarol: You can be a "courage buddy" with me and E.Elle. :-)
ReplyDeleteTina: I know what you mean, and I felt I've let fear hold me back for too long. Think of Galadriel: "You will find your courage."
Shannon: Indeed, some of the most fearsome things aren't the typical dangers, but ordinary relational things. Great quote.
Holly: It is encouraging to think that over time we gain wisdom AND courage.
ReplyDeleteElle: Amen. So, so true.
Saumya: Here's to a braver you in 2011!
GE: I found Chesterton intriguing too. Sometimes doing the scary thing feels like a deathleap, but that's where we really come alive.
Michelle: Being our truest selves is the ultimate test of courage, because it means stretching and sacrifice and new identity.
ReplyDeleteLaura: Me, too. It says so much to me about resting in hope that there is One bigger than all our fears who hears us.
Susan: It is a very ponderable topic. I'd read about it on Sherrida's blog and mulled for days before posting myself.