| Copyright (c) 2010 Scott F Paradis | | | | through wisdom aided by faith we finally come to exist |
| Courage is that quality resident in each person that | | | | in a state where we banish fear from awareness. We |
| recognizes fear for what it is and releases it | | | | overcome fear by recognizing fear's insignificance. |
| appropriately. Courage is the ability to act, to take the | | | | Life presents a profound opportunity, the opportunity to |
| next step, despite or in spite of a negative emotion | | | | eliminate the negative energy of fear by choosing a |
| dominating the body. Courage is not the absence of | | | | life of faith and positive expectation. To live a life of |
| fear; rather, it is the trait that allows us to act while the | | | | faith requires a spiritual connection to the source and a |
| energy of fear is present. Courage is the attribute of | | | | realization that this place is not our ultimate home. We |
| release. It takes courage to let go, to move out into the | | | | are visitors in a strange and marvelous land - we |
| stream, to take the next small step forward. Courage | | | | journey here on tourist visas. We enjoy our temporary |
| is the ability to let go despite all the evidence | | | | stay, accept the passing of time, circumstances, |
| demanding you cling tightly to your present | | | | possessions, and possibilities. Reveling in the moment, |
| circumstances and limited ideas about reality. | | | | we remain secure in the knowledge that no matter |
| The challenge, when the emotion of fear takes hold, | | | | what this life brings this reality of flesh and blood, air, |
| has been labeled the "flight or fight syndrome." A | | | | earth, water and fire is temporary and transient. We, |
| person has three options: distance him or herself from | | | | the awareness, the observer, are permanent and |
| the threat (run away); resist the object of the threat | | | | enduring. |
| (fight); or do nothing. The options to deal with fear first | | | | Life is a rollercoaster. Sometimes life moves fast, |
| require a response to the emotion and then an action | | | | sometime life moves slow, but always it moves. We |
| to address the circumstances. We lose when we fall | | | | experience highs and lows, ups and downs. Emotions |
| victim to emotion, fleeing, fighting, or succumbing to | | | | wash over us like waves crashing on the seashore. |
| fear's paralysis. There is another way. That other way | | | | Circumstances come into our lives and situations |
| is to never become a channel for fear. | | | | change. This entire existence is in motion. Life, this |
| Wisdom is the word used to describe the path to | | | | world, this existence is change. By recognizing we are |
| enlightenment, the road to enduring security. Through | | | | the observer, we are awareness: we can act |
| wisdom we recognize initially the nature of fear, and | | | | courageously to dissolve fear. |