The definition of courage is the ability to conquer fear or despair.

In the past, we may have been called courageous or strong because we stayed in circumstances

that were difficult or nearly unbearable.

We may have felt that walking away from family, children, friends, relationships, a job was

cowardly or displayed weakness.

We may have felt that by holding back our tears who were stronger people.

Yet all the things we may have viewed as weakness are really signs of courage.

All the things we believe to be signs of courage.

All the things we believe to be acts of courage

were really not courageous at all.

If we walked away from difficult or unbearable circumstances,

we would be conquering despair. If we cried, we would be conquering despair.

If we cried, we would have been courageous by letting go of our fear, pain, or sadness.

Courage doesn't mean putting ourselves in stressful or unpleasant situations. Courage doesn't mean controlling our emotions. Courage is the ability to strengthen ourselves against the fear and despair of life rather than be drowned by it.

Mmm. This came from one of my

daily readers.

How many fucking times have you told yourself in the last month? Just stick with it for

longer. It'll get better. Just stay at this job until that bonus comes through. Just keep seeing this person or seeing them less because their family or this friendship I've had since I was in school and we keep making ourselves

endure things which ends up costing us more.

I stayed at corporate far too long because I was like waiting for this like bonus check

that they would dangle.

Meanwhile in the fine print and I can tell you this for any company based in the United States,

...