The 6 areas of courage that impact your life
There are six types of courage needed to face challenges on this here journey of life: physical, moral, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social. Let’s unpack them so we can check that we’re leaning into all of them, ensuring our progress as a complete and whole person.
Be strong
Physical courage is the one most people think of first. Running a marathon for the first time. Getting sober or initiating a weight-loss program. It’s bravery at the risk of bodily harm or discomfort. The stuff heroes are made of. It involves physical strength and resiliency. Pushing yourself physically past where you’d normally stop, taking on an accomplishment or goal that’s important to you. You set your mind to braving the physical unknown.
Standing up for yourself
Social courage involves standing up at the risk of social embarrassment, ostracism, rejection, or being unpopular for the sake of a belief, opinion, perspective, cause, or action. Think of any social crusader who changed the course of events for the betterment of many, or anyone who has ever rallied for the underdog despite resistance. These are saints in our history of civilization, as they pushed us forward in our collective societal progress. We can all find ways to stand for what matters to us in the face of what a majority believes. When you are socially courageous, you are living from your authentic self.
Being different is ok
Intellectual courage is about being willing to wade through challenging ideas that might not be a normal train of thought, by questioning your way of thinking and what you’ve previously learned and assumed as “truth.’ This kind of courage is around releasing the identity of the mind to expand and become discerning, absorbing new ways of viewing the world around us, however uncomfortable it makes us in the moment. It’s being willing to be reeducated around politics, history, religion — topics where we traditionally put stakes in the ground and say “It’s this way!” and shut out other perspectives. This courage keeps you open, curious, and compassionate. You essentially learn to unlearn what you’ve fiercely identified with previously.
Do it right
Moral courage involves doing the right thing despite negative outcomes. It’s about ethics, integrity, character, and values. It’s also the proverbial line in the sand you won’t cross no matter how tempting the payoff, even if you won’t get caught. It’s being in your truth no matter the cost because it’s how you feel compelled to walk through the world around you. You’re embodying “doing the right thing.”
Have a little faith
Spiritual courage is wrestling with your faith in tough times. It’s clinging to faith when there’s no physical evidence of it, or when that same faith is being challenged because of extenuating circumstances. It’s the kind of courage needed to expand spiritual points of view when you feel stuck, through prayer, meditation, contemplation, and teachings that uplift. The payoff is you come to trust the process of your life with all its twists and turns.
Just feel
Emotional courage is exploring all of your feelings, both the positive and the negative ones—the whole gamut—giving them permission to be discovered without repressing or redirecting them. It’s mining them as they arise and being willing to follow the trail of emotions wherever they lead you, knowing all healing happens in us through this allowing.
