Do you remember the last time you showed courage? Was there a battle going on inside your head to make a choice between comfort and confrontation? To do what is easy or to take the tough fearful path?
Well, I remember the last time I showed courage. And to do something courageous took me a lot of courage in itself. When I searched the meaning behind it on google it said, courage is the ability to control fear in a dangerous or unpleasant situation. Well, I don’t agree. For me courage is the manifestation of doing something which feels right and true to our own heart. Not only having the strength to face what haunts you, but also the will to bring your fear along the journey you take. Whenever we find ourselves in hard times we search for it outside, either in the prayers we send to god or in our hopes that someone will help us out. Little do we realize that we are our own help.The words of Rumi hold true still after so many years” we aren’t a drop in the ocean rather the entire ocean in a drop. “In other words we are crafted with the Intelligence of the entire universe. I realized the power of courage when I did something courageous myself, a few months ago I was unhappy, trapped in something which I wasn’t passionate or thrilled about because of my wrong decision of leaving school and joining a coaching class for preparation of my medical entrance exam. I lost my love for the subject that I used to enjoy the most. So many hours mugging up everything without understanding the creativity or application behind. I decided to tell my parents I wanted to join back school again. I was afraid from the criticism I will receive from my parents, coaching teachers and friends. And I was fearful that I will not be selected and successful. But deep down in my heart it felt right and I’m grateful to my parents for the support they showed, for my school to accept me back again and my teachers to be so warm and welcoming. My action may be subtle but I know it is bringing me closer to my dream of being a good doctor with ignited passion for medicine. Courage is incomparable, it is like the strings of a guitar which produces the sound of our dreams. The voice produced will always have the same impact but its magnitude may vary. Hence even a small act of courage is as powerful as a big movement. The more we practice it in our thoughts, speech and action the more stronger we become. Most of us today hope for a dystopian society where love, peace and happiness prevails but if we look closely towards the course of this world. We will see that it operates in duality, we have night and day, war and peace, rich and poor, hatred and love. The world’s path isn’t smooth and frictionless. It is one with bumps, rocks, sands and stones. The only constant in the ever so changing world could be our core values. If we act with fortitude, passion and strength, then we create our own extraordinary world. Courage are the clouds which when transformed showers the rain of positive development in our society, our strength is the thunder. The change are the rainbows, in which beauty continues to thrive. Today I honour the courage of Martin Luther king who devoted his life to end racial discrimination, Gandhi in providing swaraj, Malala Youafzai to seek education, the women who come forward to share their stories of sexual assault and harassment, Women who are fighting against domestic violence and honour killings. Writers like Rupi Kaur and Jk Rowling for self publishing their books. Youth who are striking for climate change and sustainability, The LGBTQ+ community who by their continuous efforts are creating an amazing diverse equal society, the NGO’s operating to provide education, safety and spreading awareness about child abuse and pornography. I honour a mother raising her family, a father supporting their unique child, an artist fighting her way to pursue her dreams, a model accepting her body the way it is, my friends for sharing their voices, being and getting inspired everyday, my father for living alone in another country for 5 years, people who struggle everyday fighting their addiction to alcohol, drugs , cigarettes. Courage is everywhere, in each one of our hearts, and it is the most powerful force of change. Winston Churchill once said” Courage is what it takes to stand up, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Forgiving can be an act of courage, reconciliation can take courage. Deciding not to fight can be as courageous as charging into battle. Activism and ferociously committing ones life to benefit others can tap into great courage. Courage is contagious and inspiring. Throughout the ages, our culture's are filled with stories of courage that serve as a way of encouraging us to be brave. There are many theories and tales about the courage. Thomas Jefferson, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Dalai Lama, Abraham Lincoln, Addison, Madam Curie and many others are among them. Since ancient times courage was regarded as an integral part of a person who was powerful to confront the challenges serving for the good of others. Courage is what makes us individuals different from others. It shows in what we believe and the power of belief over our will. It is always "the difficult path." It could be an unconscious act of boldness, but before all it is the conscious decision of a person to act despite the danger. Thus, courage is always related to belief, will, and danger. There is no courage without risk. There is no heroism without stakes. We cannot speak about courage without thinking about losses and victories. Courage differs from imprudence or madness by its results. The courageous act saves lives, gives hope, it is a rare act of self-scrifice for the good of others. The criminal who steals, or lies for personal gain, or kills, who causes unhappiness to others with his reckless actions, is not a courageous person.
Courage can occur anytime, anywhere, and often in our everyday lives. To fight injustice or overcome difficulties alone, without the support of people..is courage. We are all courageous in our own ways—some of us have simply had it tested a bit more than others. Such trials are the stuff of life that we would never wish for but, at the end of the tunnel, find ourselves grateful for having passed through them. Like love, courage never goes away, only changes form from time to time, builds on itself, evolves, expands, and enhances everything it touches.Through my ted talk today, my hope is that you will tap into the fire of your own inner courage and feel its transformative power to light your way.
