Courage Come In Many Forms

Here are three types of everyday courage you must know

By Chardonnay Beaver The use of the word courage seems to be vacant in my everyday life. Nouns like courage are often reserved for special occasions, not everyday conversation. Some nouns are best defined through our daily decisions and actions. Courage is a virtue I rarely think to discuss when describing myself. These thoughts may be attributed to the portrayals of courage that I, frankly, don’t resonate with. My earliest portrayal of courage, that I can recall, was a lion. Not just any lion, but the lion in the 1978 American musical movie The Wiz. Being that my dad loves The Wiz, one of our family Thanksgiving traditions is watching the movie and singing the soulful tunes. Played by Ted Ross, Lion taught viewers that courage is about addressing our fears face forward. As a noun, the definition of courage suggests that selective individuals are born with the ‘ability’ to face what frightens them. However, as a verb, the definition of courage suggests that individuals ‘choose’ to overcome their fears by developing healthy practices. According to an article in Corwin Connect, an educational site dedicated to developing professionals, there's four types of courage individuals can exercise in their everyday lives. Three of the four include: First, moral courage. Moral courage is a form of courage that compels individuals to advocate for their beliefs despite facing overwhelming opposition. Second, disciplined courage. Disciplined courage is a form of courage that’s strategic and purpose-driven in the face of adversity. Last, but not least, empathic courage. Empathetic courage is a form of courage that urges individuals to feel deeply about the suffering other’s experience. Words of Wisdom by Char of the Week: Courage isn’t a superhuman ability that grants individuals the power to face their fears. Courage is a choice we all have the ability to choose daily. Deuteronomy 31:6

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