Don't lose your courage

"Courage is knowing what not to fear." - Plato

Definition of Courage
According to the Oxford dictionary, courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. It is strength in the face of pain or grief.

We do need lots of courage
We need lots of courage to stand up for what’s right when we stand alone. Or to do what’s right despite disapproval. Or even to take risks that are for our own good. Many people dare not ask for further explanation when the question sounds stupid. Indeed, it also takes a lot of courage to admit you don’t know certain thing or don't even know what you’re doing.

Well, what would your life look like if you had absolutely no fear?

Let's take a look at this story:

There was once a man who was suffered from a deadly illness. Knowing that he will die soon, he was the first to join the military when his country was in a battle with the enemy. Hoping to die in battle, he would fight in the front line, exposing himself without any worry for his life. Eventually they won the battle and he was still alive!

His commander was extremely impressed with his bravery which contributed much to the victory, decided to promote and award him with medals of bravery and honor. On the day of presentation, he was looking very down and unhappy. Curious, the commander asked him the reason why and was told of his deadly illness. "How could I let such a brave soldier die?", the commander thought. So the commander hired the best doctor and finally cured the soldier.

But from that day onwards, the once fearless and brave soldier was no longer seen at the front! He would always avoid danger and tried his best to protect his life instead of risking it!

When you remain in your comfort zone, you can be like the soldier eventually holding you back from moving forward. Thus, don't lose your courage to do what is necessary! Break the chain and free yourself.

“Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.” - Dale Carnegie

"A timid person is frightened before a danger, a coward during the time, and a courageous person afterward." - Jean Paul Richter

Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.

Photo 1 by Carl M. taken from this source
Photo 2 by Photo-Gedden taken from this source

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Don't fail to try new things!

"It is alright to try and fail, but don't fail to try!"

There is an element of risk whenever we venture into something new. The problem with many people is that they spend too much time worrying about failures, calculating risks and finally got themselves chain up and not able to take any actions to achieve anything they had dreamed about.

That is not the case with the young one. They always willing to try new things and dare to ask for this or that from their parent. They do not have any fear that their request will be rejected. This is not so when they have grown up.

Below are some quotes that might be useful:

“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.” - Leo F. Buscaglia

“Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk - and to act.” - Andre Malraux

“Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don't. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.” - Philip Andrew Adams

“It's not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It's because we dare not venture that they are difficult.” - Seneca

Isn't it true that we seldom procrastinate doing things that we enjoy, yet many of us frequently defer or avoid tasks that involve something new? Well, don't holds back any longer; just take all the necessary steps and success could be just around the corner for you!

Photo 1 by bryanpearson taken from this source
Photo 2 by bryankennedy taken from this source

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Learn to Rest and Relax. It is necessary!

It is very important that you recognize the signs and symptoms of burnout. Anyone can have burnout caused by long-term exposure to demanding work situations.

Burnout is the cumulative result of stress. It is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. - more details

“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” - William S. Burroughs

“Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” - Ralph Marston

Take a look at this illustration:

A lecturer was giving a lecture to his student on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?"

They answered anywhere from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "It does not matter on the absolute weight.
It depends on how long you hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, it is OK.
If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance.
It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.

The lecturer continued, "If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier." "What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again."

We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on. So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders, let it down for a moment if you can. Pick it up again later when you have rested... Rest and relax.

"Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit. Inner peace begins with a relaxed body." - Norman Vincent Peale

Do you have a lot of burden that you find it difficult to put down? For those that have good tips how to put down your burden, please comments and share your wisdom.

(Source of this illustration: Internet; Author Unknown)

Photo by fortinbras taken from this source

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The Power of Love vs Fear

Love and Fear are two of the most basic and powerful human emotions. Some promote love, but then there are others that think instilling fear is more effective in getting things done. What do you think?

"Love is always creative, fear always destructive." - Emmet Fox.

"Wicked men obey for fear, but the good for love." - Aristotle.

“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.” - Lao Tzu

Greater is he who acts from love than he who acts from fear. If you want more, watch this video about The Power of Love vs Fear.

Remember to radiates love instead of fear to get your children or employee do what is necessary. Choose love instead of fear if possible. If you do, a wonderful life adventure awaits you! Fear is really nothing and love is everything. Do you agree?

Photo by ithinkchaos taken from this source

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Fear of being too old to succeed

The one constant in our life is change: changing roles, new demands, multiple projects, more responsibility and constantly juggling priorities in the workplace. We are time-starved and work-hurried.

In our rush to reach our goals, many suffer from all kinds of ailments such as high blood pressure, heart-stroke or ulcers. One shouldn't be proud to have these kinds of diseases, sort of a "success symbol" that they are the fast-paced people on the fast-track.

Forget about your age, just set out with your objectives, it may take some time but don't push it or else you may not be able to enjoy the fruit of your labour.

A story to illustrate this point:

Once there was a farmer who was very anxious to see his paddy (rice) plant grow fast and tall. After just sowing the seeds, he would just keep on watching day in and day out to see how much it had grown. By the time the seedlings had grown a couple of inches higher, he could not longer wait anymore and decided to "help" the paddy plants grow faster. Thus one day he pulled each one of the plant taller by an inch or so. You can guess what happened to all the plants the next day. So don't force it.

"Youth and age are not dates in time, but state of mind. Our duty is not to add years to our lives, but to add life to our years..." - Myron J. Taylor

Photo by yoz taken from this source

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Removing barriers to success

"It takes courage to make a fool of yourself." - Charlie Chaplin

Imagine all those who tried to fly before Wilbur and Orville Wright succeeded. They were considered fools by many. But they were right: humans can fly.

“There are no failures - just experiences and your reactions to them.” - Tom Krause

“Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up.”

“Remember the two benefits of failure. First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn't work; and second, the failure gives you the opportunity to try a new approach.” - Roger Von Oech

“Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.”

Photo by marttj taken from this source

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Have confidence in Yourself

"You cannot consistently perform in a manner which is inconsistent with the way you see yourself." - Zig Ziglar

“Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.” - Stan Smith

“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves”

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” - Sven Goran Eriksson

The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.

The man who has confidence in himself gains the confidence of others.

Photo by Jim Renaud taken from this source

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Conquer Fear

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

"Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows. Never fear shadows... they simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.

"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have." - Louis E. Boone.

"Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it... that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear." - Dale Carnegie.

Photo by Nagyman taken from this source

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Where to set your Focus on

“Focus on your potential instead of your limitations” - Alan Loy McGinnis

"Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear." - Anthony Robbins

“Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.” - Denis Waitley

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” - Greg Anderson

To be great, concentrate. Most people remain ordinary because they scatter their energies. Thirty minutes a day aimed at one thing can convert a nobody into a somebody.

"Concentration is the secret of strength." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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How to response to Stress

"Stress is not what happens to us. It's our response to what happens. And Response is something we can choose." - Maureen Killoran

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question:
Will this matter in 5 years from now?
If yes, then do something about the situation.
If no, then let it go." - Catherine Pulsifer

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." - Benjamin Franklin

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. - Lily Tomlin

Photo by BrittneyBush taken from this source

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Be courageous in good deed

Courage is the willingness to do the things you know are right. Do the thing you fear, and fear will disappear.

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy - Dale Carnegie.

Courage is not the absence of fear; it's the conquest of fear.

Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.

Photo by Sir Garlichad taken from this source

What the Bible Says about Wisdom

Let's check from the New King James Version (NKJV) Bible:

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility

Indeed, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

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