COURAGE MONTH: DAY 1: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” — Nelson Mandela
Courage, the Principle behind Step 8, is so important. We say the Serenity Prayer and call it the ‘Serenity’ prayer…I believe it is the prayer for Acceptance and Courage. I have to Accept everything, both those things I can change and those things I cannot…I seldom accept things with serenity, but I have learned to do that more often. But, for me, the most important thing about the prayer is that I need courage to change things that I can-which is ME…my attitudes and behaviors and old ideas. So, I call it the Courage Prayer. And this is where I really need to start with practicing that principle.
I also really like this one and its timing for more personal reasons; I am born in August, the 8th month, and the sign for most of August is Leo, the lion…a Universal symbol of courage and largeness of heart. I believe it takes greatness of heart to foster courage. For many, the words are used interchangeably. So I have some strong attachment to both this step and this principle.
And I believe it is one of the most important concepts for us addicts, because we are so terrifically fear-based. I have many recovery friends who suffer from anxiety. I have had panic attacks and anxiety for much of my early life. The deal with that is that anxiety is only believing those fears that scream in our brains about the future. We have to sit with that noise and be calm and centered in today. This takes many years of practice to pull off with any efficacy. And practice we must!
Practice with calming ourselves allows us to have hope that we can walk out into the world, which we perceive to be filled with grizzly bears ready to attack, and walk through our fear and anxiety into places and experiences we did not believe we could take on. Our experience takes us down the road and we become more inclined to trust and have faith again…and something may happen to shake up our faith in one area of our life, but we just keep on trudgin’…which is why the word is used…it ain’t skippin’ that day for sure!
And we build up a sense of faith that the world is our friend and life is an amazing adventure…or we stay stuck in knowing that it is all dark and gloomy and dreary and there is no hope. My experience with the second way of life is this: When I was about 30-40 days around this deal, I was in a meeting and 2 guys were talking…they were so gloomy that I thought to myself…” if that is what you get around here, I think I would rather be loaded today.” Then I heard one of them share that he had not done any step work and did not call his sponsor and I immediately got the message! I am so happy that I got that message; I truly believe it is divinely inspired to give me the incentive to never, ever, ever let up on a program of spiritual growth and development. I have had some terrific situations in 30 years, but they have all been something to walk through with courage and gratitude.
For me, Courage is the thing that lets me walk through Hell (perceived in my mind, of course) with dancing shoes on. (I know we have talked about my shoe thing!) No matter my terror or the stupid thoughts that persist in coming to me during a time of difficulty in life, I have the same process to work through that I do when the sun is shining, I am in love, and money flows just right. Life is life…it is my participation in, and beliefs about life and the events going on, that creates Heaven or Hell for me. We are given these amazing tools for use in the process…and it is beautiful and sad and lovely and terrifying at times, but it is life and we have all we ever need to kick up some shit while it is going on!
Dolphin Hug 