Yet One more on Courage

[Guest guest]

Dear Fellow Travellers in TBP,

 

Love and Love alone...

 

Kindly bear with me, for sharing one more piece of writing on

courage. Somehow, I could not resist the temptation to share this

write up also with you all. I hope you all enjoy it.

 

Love and Love alone...

 

P. Gopi Krishna

 

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Courageous leaders for courageous followers

 

One of the essential qualities of a leader is that he is courageous.

It doesn't mean that he is not afraid, but that he is ready to take

risks, go out of his familiar and safe surroundings and walk an

extra mile along the road less travelled.

 

 

Men of courage have made a difference in this world. Any significant

progress in society, in family, in politics, in religious life or in

business is the result of the courageous decision of a courageous

person.

 

We don't become courageous by occupying a leadership position;

rather we are courageous to occupy that position.

 

 

1. Courageous people are those who have won the battle over their

inner lives. We all have a lot of fears, mainly our inner fears,

tensions and anxieties. We are afraid of our perceptions and

thoughts, our inhibitions and imaginations. We are afraid to make a

decision and make a commitment. We need to win this war within

ourselves if we want to become a courageous leader.

 

When we have won our inner battles we will begin to courageously do

things that we were once afraid of doing. To win this most important

battle first of all we must discover who we are, identify the

weapons we have, prepare ourselves with more talents and use them

effectively. Self-mastery is the path to all other victories.

 

2. Courageous leaders don't run away from problems. Problems are

there everywhere for everyone. A courageous leader stands up to

these problems and faces them. He faces the mountain and climbs it

steadily with strong steps and conquers it courageously. Courage is

not the absence of fear but the willingness to push on in the face

of it. It is our ability to confront the fear, the pain, the

uncertainty and the danger.

 

3. Courageous leaders make their followers also courageous. Courage

is contagious. People will follow not a coward but a courageous hero

who will bravely lead them to higher goals and greater delights.

 

4. Courageous leaders inspire commitment in others. They make things

right and commit themselves fiercely to a cause that they believe

in. They are ready to stand for what is right, what is new and

inspire others to do the same.

 

5. Courageous leaders are free and they find opportunities to grow

everywhere. Fear enslaves us and prevents us from growing up. We

often look for safe places, and are afraid to take risks and

challenges but growth comes only when we courageously walk the road

less travelled.

 

6. Courageous leaders are honourable. People admire them for their

robust will power and courageous deeds.

 

7. Courage empowers the leader to do greater wonders. Remember the

story of little David who courageously defeated the mighty Goliath.

Courage is the key to wonderful living, great performance and high

satisfaction.

 

8. Courage makes us more courageous. When we face the music, go out

and do something risky we become more courageous. We are afraid of

people, situations, places events and experiences. The only way to

overcome this fear is by meeting the monster face to face. Do what

you are afraid of doing and you will never be afraid of doing it

again.

 

9. Courage doesn't consist in doing great things that normally

people are afraid of doing. But it takes more courage to refrain

from gossip, to stand up for what is right, to defend justice, to

speak for the voiceless, to live honestly, to accept failures, to

give up credits for the sake of others, to refuse to do wrong and to

live according to our convictions.

 

We are courageous >>

when we appreciate the good works and ideas of others,

 

when we speak well of others,

 

when we don't criticise the management and colleagues,

 

when we are punctual and dedicated in our work,

when we don't blame others for our failures and defeats,

when we sincerely do our duties and preserve the properties of our

company, and when we genuinely care and share.

 

Courage is most clearly expressed in forgiveness.

 

In the first half of 1981 there were two assassination attempts one

after the other on Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan.

Both could have died but were fortunately saved. Reagan showed much

courage and even cracked a joke on his way to the operation theatre.

The Pope immediately forgave his assassin, Mehmet Ali Agca. In an

editorial, Rajmohan Gandhi commented: " Reagan showed how human he

was, the Pope showed how divine he was. "

 

Leaders who lack courage aren't leaders.

 

When we are courageous all our difficulties vanish and all obstacles

melt away. We are born to be leaders. Become a courageous leader

then.