Courage: The Catalyst for Your Unique Life

For me, courage is the very energy and value that allows you to create your own unique life. Without it, we risk becoming stagnant, simply going through the motions, doing the ordinary, the basic, the usual. Courage is what transforms us from ordinary individuals into the real, authentic "you" – the you that is distinct from the masses, the global "you." It's the stepping stone that enables you to actively engage with life, rather than passively waiting for life to come to you. You step into life, you shape it, and you make it meaningful. 

It's so easy to conform to societal expectations or blend into our immediate environments. We often try to fit in and mix in, losing a sense of our own identity. But to be your own person, to live freely and authentically, you absolutely need courage. It's the fuel that empowers you to stand up for yourself and be true to who you are.

Courage also necessitates self-confidence. It's what allows you to express yourself in ways that aren't ordinary, to bring something new to the table that isn't already established. It pushes you beyond your comfort zone. When we talk about courage, it means stepping into the adventure, into newness, into the unknown. But that's the beauty of life, isn't it? To face things you're not accustomed to, to embrace what's different.

Cultivating Courage: Aim, Trust, and Self-Reflection

So, how can someone who feels less courageous cultivate this vital quality? I believe the first step is to have an aim. When you have a clear aim, life becomes meaningful. This sense of purpose, combined with your aim, sparks a desire and temptation to act. The energy is already there, and as they say, "where there's a will, there's a way." When you view life with purpose, and you want to contribute, you realize that only by doing something truly personal, something that aligns with your unique personality, will you truly develop, grow, and find happiness and contentment. Otherwise, you risk becoming stagnant. 

You need the power to trust yourself – to believe that you can step into the unknown and manage whatever arises. You need to trust that you'll find solutions in the moment itself. A crucial aspect of this is the ability to speak to yourself. When I step into the unknown, I observe how I feel and how I perform, and then I reflect on it. I become my own teacher, offering constructive feedback. I might tell myself, "Michel, you did well, but I'm sure you can do better, you can improve." This internal dialogue, this strong relationship with myself, is incredibly empowering. It helps me see how far I've come and how much further I can go, breaking through my perceived limitations.

When I speak of "aim," as a spiritual person, my primary aim is always for self-improvement. This means developing more qualities, competencies, inner power, and values. It's about gaining new insights into myself, life, and values, and cultivating fresh motivations. For example, if I'm participating in a week-long seminar, my aim is to be fully present, accurate, proactive, and to contribute my opinions, concepts, ideas, and thoughts. All these smaller aims are part of my larger goal of self-transformation. By engaging in such seminars, connecting with diverse individuals, learning from them, tolerating differences, and expressing myself in new ways, I am actively working towards my ultimate aim.

Life can easily de-root you, pulling you in various directions. But with an aim, you maintain a sense of purpose and direction. It means consciously creating something that originates from within you, something connected to situations and contexts that align with your growth and improvement.

Yes, to live this way, courage is paramount. My aim is elevated. We all have limitations, but I deeply believe that the soul has the potential for the unlimited. Unlimited means I can always push my boundaries, constantly placing myself in new situations with new people. All of this is part of the aim of reaching perfection, embracing the unlimited, constantly improving, and becoming more open and expansive. 

Living courageously isn't always easy. It's often simpler to conform to expectations and do what the world says, which can lead to feeling trapped in a small box. But if you hold a higher aim and purpose to achieve the perfection of the soul and spirit – then all your daily, weekly, and monthly aims become aligned with this grander vision. This connection to your higher purpose fuels your courage, enabling you to consciously improve yourself towards transformation, no matter what situations you encounter. 

Michel Simon - National Coordinator of Brahma Kumaris Serbia