Thursday Tapestry: The Courage Issue
- Su-Yen Wong
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Of late, I've been thinking about courage - a lot. Not the blustery, boisterous kind, but the purposeful, persevering kind that is a matter of conviction.
A Quote I'm Meditating On...
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear." Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Quiet Bravery of Saying “No”
For the last four years, Ryan Holiday, bestselling author and modern Stoic, has delivered a series of lectures at the U.S. Naval Acadamy about the virtue of courage and doing the right thing. This year, an hour before his talk, he was asked to remove any mention of a recent book ban on campus. He chose to stick to his message - and had his lecture cancelled. In this powerful reflection, he writes about the quiet courage to speak truth, even when the personal cost is high. “I had to choose between my message or my continued welcome at an institution it has been one of the honors of my life to speak at.”
Will you answer the call?
As this article points out, in a world where playing it safe is the norm - be it in business, politics, or everyday life - moral courage is what's needed to battle the forces of cowardice. Will we be brave enough to step forward; speak up; choose integrity over comfort? Will we heed the call to forge a new path; play the long game; serve a bigger purpose?
9 Stoic Rules For A Better Life (from Marcus Aurelius)
So how do we actually live courage? Over 3 million people have viewed this video which breaks down 9 principles that help us practise courage moment by moment. It's Stoicism made real - for messy, beautiful, ordinary life. It's 10 minutes well spent, but don't take my word for it.
This can make your life better too!
In the spirit of small improvements, here's a little boost for your digital life. This round-up of 15 iPhone tips shows how simple tweaks can reduce friction and free up brain space. Because sometimes courage is facing the inbox and finally fixing your phone settings.
Everyone Wants Change… Until It Gets Personal
This cartoon is a perfectly cheeky illustration of the gap between wanting change and being willing to change.
Thanks for journeying through this with me.
May we all find the courage within us to listen to that inner voice, and take that next small step, or the road less traveled. May we all draw on reserves of inner strength (we didn't know we had!) to fight for what's right, or prove the naysayers wrong.
If these thoughts sparked something in you, please don't keep them to yourself - sharing is caring! Until next month, take care and keep choosing what matters.
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