Are you waiting for someone else to encourage or “hand you” courage? I believe we all have an immense amount of courage placed inside us from birth, but it becomes unavailable when it is locked in a cage called fear.
Sometimes the key that opens that cage is a crisis. We’ve heard many stories of parents jumping to save their children from harm, or people standing up for someone attacked by bullies, even when their personal safety is at risk.
So why is it so hard to unleash courage for ourselves, even for simple things like pursuing a career or public speaking? I think it’s because we are constantly looking outside ourselves to get it. It’s great when a spouse or a friend or a coach gives you encouragement, but they are not transferring some magical substance into your heart. They are simply unlocking the courage that’s already there.
Discouragement means to lock it up again, and that’s something else we allow from the outside. Just because someone labels you or harasses you doesn’t mean you have to receive it. They can’t lock up your courage without your permission.
If you are getting tired of fear locking up courage in your life, maybe it’s finally time to make a change. I wish there was a word equivalent to “discourage” that means taking fear away… because the ability to “disfear” yourself will be the catalyst for your next breakthrough. Courage is released from within.
Thanks to Pastor Bret Allen for the inspiration.
