Courage and the Modern Woman

Define courage and the dictionary tells you that it is ‘the ability to control fear when facing danger or pain, bravery…” Another speaks of ‘desire or will…the quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger or difficulties with firmness or without fear or fainting of heart; valour, boldness, resolution.”

When you think of the word courage, what do you think about? Does anyone person pop into your head? What about a fireman? How about early women entrepreneurs that were pioneers in their field? Or perhaps it brings to mind the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz?

I got to thinking about this lately and thought about women that overcome major odds like being born and raised in the ghetto or come out of some major illness and making something wonderful of themselves. Women that have encountered many odds and have risen like a phoenix out of the ashes so to speak are ones that display courage. 

How about women that start their own businesses, surely they need to show a certain amount of fortitude and it is definitely takes a great amount of boldness and resolution to go out on a limb to start a new business. Also, what about a woman who has the courage to leave an abusive relationship? That takes a huge amount of faith, hope and yes, courage.

To stand up for your beliefs often requires much courage no matter what the consequence. Look back throughout history. One lady with a whole lot of courage that dared to make her world better is Rosa Parks. She could have meekly complied with the bus driver and went to the back of the bus, but chose to stand her ground and stood for what she believed in.

Courage is something that is an attitude, a choice that one makes. I look at courage in this perspective, if we don’t change then we don’t grow and if we don’t grow are we truly living? Taking risks requires one to temporarily interrupt their sense of security. But for that momentary halt in feeling comfortable in our lives, the growth that we will see in the end totally outweighs any current discomfort for sure.