Courage
The best meditations for me are the single word contemplation. It’s easily done, one sits with open eyes, with a piece of paper and a pen. All attention and energy goes it resolving a single word. Thought goes to unraveling the meanings, by that definition we define and redefine the word and how it relates to us. The lesson in the word and how we can apply it to our daily life … if we can at all.
I’ve been doing this work when thinking of the 7 Sacred Teachings.
Seven simple words, disassembled and deduced to emotions and matter which you can breathe. That energy absorbed and made part of you, with it deeper understanding as to what they truly mean. Only because you’ve unlocked it for yourself and begin the process to making it part of everything you are and everything you do.
Courage
Bear teaches us about courage, it is the strength and the natural ability to overcome challenges. A mother bear, for example, will stand against a much larger, stronger male bear or other threat to protect her cubs. They also teach us about living a balance. But Bear calls us to awaken the potential within ourselves and to stand up for what we believe in.
It is Defined as:
the ability to do something that frightens one.
to show strength in the face of pain or grief.
Courage comes from our heart space. It is interesting because we call on this energy more often than we might realize. It is more than the fight or flight response, despite the occasions where we find ourselves confronted with our fears. Not only fear but matters that make us uncomfortable, similar to the times we face a situation for the first time. Events where we push ourselves out of what is normal for us and we explore new things all on our own, seeing and places and faces that may me unfamiliar. Exploring social circles, and different interests. Taking the risk to show a different part of ourselves and being vulnerable in front of strangers when we express our passions through art. The moments it takes to decide to exhale before confronting a love interest and expressing your feelings. To leave a career and explore something new in the hopes doing something you enjoy. To risk surviving over living life is what the bear embodies. Courage exists is every adventure we face in life, like every adventure takes us into the unknown. There we can explore the further reaches of possibility of who we are, and we decide who are and what we can be.
Expressions of Courage:
Trying a food that you've never tried before.
Engaging in a new experience.
Asking someone out on a date.
Doing something that might be a little risky such as sky diving or riding a bike for the first time.
Standing up for a person who is being bullied.
Asking for a promotion or a raise at work.
Helping out a person or animal in need, even if it might put you in a little bit of danger.
Standing up for yourself.
Leaving an abusive relationship.
Taking a stand against an unfair social or economic practice.
Doing something by yourself for the first time.
Making a public presentation about something you believe in.
Standing up against racism or prejudice.
Leaving a job that you don't like and trying to find a new one.
Signing up for a program or class that intimidates you.
Checking volunteer program, etc
How do you practice Courage?
Contemplate this for yourself. Discover the methods that work for you.
Although keep in mind writing it down is not truly practicing. But a simple step into understanding it better.
It is the difference in knowing the teaching and putting it into practice. How we do this, is up to us as individuals.
These sacred words are not simple things, they are a way of being. To embody and envelop these words they become part of us and our way of life.