Courage: You Have What You Seek
The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz sought what he had.
#1. Courage is taking the next step again.
The Cowardly lion was afraid, but he kept going.
Congratulations! You showed up again today. It might have been easier to pull the covers over your head, but your feet hit the floor. It takes courage to face a day filled with challenges.
Courage is getting up when you prefer lying down.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” Budweiser Beer Ad
#2. Courage is turning toward, not away.
Procrastination is fear in action.
Write down three things you’re putting off. Cross one off your list and do that now.
“The opposite of courage in our society,” Rollo May said, “is not cowardice, but conformity”.
#3. Courage is focusing on the good you want.
The Cowardly Lion faced danger for Dorothy.
Fear blinds your soul and strangles hope.
Fear won’t quit until it snuffs out aspiration.
Courage enables thriving. Fear focuses on preservation. Fear enables survival by warning you about loss or pain.
The only way to thrive is to pursue something beyond yourself.
Living for yourself shrinks yourself.
#4. Courage is opening your hand.
Fear clings to what it has. Courage is the ability to loosen your grip. The more you cling to what you have, the more fear grips you.
Generosity overcomes the fear of loss.
Do something that advantages someone.
#5. Courage is doing the right thing when the wrong is easier.
The Cowardly Lion confronted the evil witch before he knew he had courage.
Leaders push forward. Fear pulls back.
Courage is holding your head high in pursuit of a noble cause.
What does courage look like to you?
I believe the quote about Success is Winston Churchill
Thanks Kevin. I thought so too. Quote Investigator says no. I’m open for verification. Here’s what the International Churchill Society says: https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-136/media-matters/
Hi Dan, As you know this is one of my favorite topics 😉 Thought this might article might be helpful to expand the conversation. How to be a more courageous manager. The picture in my article is from when my oldest son Ben was the Tin Man in his high school production 😉 https://letsgrowleaders.com/2019/01/15/courageous-manager/
Thanks Karin. So glad you stopped by.
Thanks for starting my day with this article. Words we all need to hear sometimes and you put this together nicely. I have never thought of myself as courageous, but these words have given me another way to look at challenges.
Thanks Karen. It’s a pleasure to be an encouragement to you. Cheers! 🙂
Thanks Dan…this is exactly what I needed to read today. After 27 years in public service my energy towards serving the public has waned a bit. However, it does take courage to face the onslaught of negative energy our society seems to carry with themselves. We need to support each other regardless of our perspectives…and this takes courage. Courage is walking towards the storm clouds instead of taking shelter.
Thanks for serving! There is lots of negativity in the world. Don’t watch cable news!! 😄
If the Cowardly Lion had the courage all along, he wasn’t cowardly. He was unfairly defined by something in his past.
Interest insight. All the characters in the Wizard of Oz had what they sought. The question is why didn’t they know that?
Because — like some folks I work with — they had been told they didn’t have X so many times, they started to believe it. It took something special to make them realize they really did have X.
Great article…really needed this today. Healthcare workers, especially Healthcare leaders, need a lot of Courage right now as we are protective and try to continue to motivate our staff during these trying times. Who is looking out for the burnt out leaders? YOU are!!!! Thank you for this, especially today-
Wow! Thanks for the good word, Joice! And thanks for serving.
Good morning Dan,
I love the saying,
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. To give credit where credit is due is to its author Winston Churchill. Budweiser seems an unlikely source even if they grabbed it for an ad.
😊 Have a great day!
John Healey 35 Tuscany Hills Point NW Calgary, Alberta T3L 2C7
403-554-0211 johnhealey100@gmail.com
Thanks John, The International Churchill Society disagrees with you. Check the link in the comment above. But no worries, I still love ya.
Is there a positive correlation between the passion and commitment you have for your beliefs, values, and goals and the courage you’re will to display taking action and fighting for them?
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
― John Wayne