COURAGE & STUPIDITY
What is what?
Judging the situation correctly can become a challenge, especially when there are conflicting and contradicting ideas about how life should be attacked. With blind courage or reserved analysis?
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On one hand you should always engage your fear! Where your fear is there is your task.
But on the other, there are definitely limits to that no? If you are afraid of jumping from high rooftops without rope or parachute does that mean you should do it? Obviously no. But maybe you are afraid of heights and could at least go up to a rooftop and take a look down to overcome your fear.
But that’s kind of not the same… And the point I’m making is that it’s not always clear if this is a rooftop I should jump down or maybe just have a look from a safe distance.
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It could be argued that this mindset of evaluating the danger of the situation is already a violation of courage.
One could argue that the danger should not matter at all. That the only thing that should matter would be the value and importance of the action. And if it is considered a high value action it should be performed regardless of the dangers associated with it.
But then how high should the value be compared to the danger?
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Again, if there is a candy bar on the street that I want and cars are racing by it, should I go get it regardless of the danger? Perhaps not, perhaps that would just be stupid. But what if it’s a kid on the street and cars are racing by, should I save it? Probably yes if we’re talking about courageous action.
“But what if a car hits me and we both end up dead?” asks the intellect.
Well that’s the dilemma of courage no? Courage doesn’t ask that question, courage doesn’t “evaluate the danger” before acting, courage doesn’t hesitate.
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But how can that be when there are clearly situations where it would be stupid to act? Is courage stupid? And is smart courage still courage?
Perhaps courage is just courage.
And just like a muscle grows when you use it courage grows when you choose it.
Is courage reckless? Also, yes. But there is simply no other way to grow this muscle but to overcome fear on a regular basis. Therefore every situation where you can practice courage is a gift!
(At least as long as you survive despite your reckless behavior)
LEO