Courage
What do you think when you hear the word courage?
Is it doing something historically heroic like a scene from the movie 300? Or is it the great dream Martin Luther King was able to carry out through all the hate? Or could it be jumping from space!
On October 14th, 2012, Felix Baumgertner broke several world records: 1) for the highest manned balloon flight at 128,100ft or roughly 24 miles, 2) for also jumped from this high altitude, and 3) for breaking sound barrier (834mph) outside of a vehicle. Videos on Youtube recapping the free fall got millions of views within a couple days. People were talking about it in schools and work. The act was just too great that it was historic. Felix is a daredevil in everyone’s eyes. However, the historic event on October 14th, 2012 could easily have never happened!
Felix had another personal record he had to break that he never thought would trouble him: claustrophobia. Jumping from such a high in altitude required Felix to wear a specially designed diving suit that would keep him safe. This suit had four different layers, each with a specific purpose to avoid any physical harm while the fall. Felix didn’t like the feeling of being in a suit. “As soon as the visor closes, there’s this nightmarish silence and loneliness,” Felix told Red Bulletin. “The suit signifies imprisonment.” He overcame his phobia with help of anxiety psychologist Wilson. Wilson explained that claustrophobia is a “natural” fear. After a lot of patience, therapy, and consistency, Felix was able to tolerate and manage his phobia that allowed him to make history.
We are now probably sitting here wishing we had the same daredevil-type courage. However, even though all these acts demonstrated courage, it is not limited only to that. If we try to understand the word courage, it means having the ability to face fears, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. It doesn’t mean obtaining fame or doing any of those sorts. It also doesn’t mean that all these negative feelings and worries are completely gone from within us. It means that we are able to say to our fears “I’ve had enough I am going to start facing you no matter how long it takes, I am going to start walking through you.”
Remember that the best kind of courage is the one you already carry around with you: the courage that keeps your feet moving even when the going gets tough. So, what is holding you back from doing something courageous today?
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying I’ll try again tomorrow.”-Mary Anne Radmacher
Sources
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Baumgartner