Courage. It’s a virtue we all admire, yet one that often feels just out of reach. We celebrate stories of audacious heroes who stare down danger without flinching. But when it comes to summoning our own bravery, we falter. Fear holds us back. Doubt paralyzes us. We make excuses, play it safe, or talk ourselves out of taking that leap. But what if courage wasn’t some lofty ideal, reserved only for the bold and the brave? What if, as Ryan...
All Bravery Is the Same
Let's start with a story. Story of The legendary Hercules! You know, the super strong Greek demigod? Well, turns out he wasn't just a big tough guy. He was also super virtuous and made some courageous choices way back when. According to legend, one day when Hercules was just a young boy, he was offered a choice. Down one path was a super-tempting woman, considered by Greeks to be a goddess, promising him a life of ease and pleasure. Anything...
Reason Defeats Fear
This four-letter F-word is the archenemy of courage. Yup, we're talking about fear. Fear is the weed that chokes out bravery. It makes us quit instead of being courageous and turns us into a bunch of scaredy cats. The ancient Greek word phobos sums it up. In Greek mythology, Phobos was the personification of fear or panic. In fact, "phobia" is derived from Phobos! Ironically, we can't find that inner strength and be gutsy, unless we're actually facing our fears...
When Fears Are Defined, They Lose Their Sting
Fear loves to cloud your thinking and make threats seem bigger and badder than they are. It's a master exaggerator and distorter! Under fear's influence, your mind turns every creak into a burglar and every headache into a brain tumor. But, if you learn to see your fears clearly and they lose their formless, magnified power over you. Think about it. When something seems hazy and ill-defined, it's way scarier, right? But if you can see the sharp edges and...
How to Build Courage from Scratch
Forget everything you thought you knew about courage. It doesn't have to be big and flashy like in the movies. Real courage starts small, with tiny steps so ordinary you barely notice. But when tiny courageous acts become a habit, you snowball into your boldest self.Take Florence Nightingale. She didn't wake up one day and set out to dive into treacherous medical missions abroad. She started small - volunteering at a local hospital for just one summer. No big deal,...
Courage Is Choosing The Right Thing In The Heat Of The Moment!
Hold onto your seats, folks, because this section is about to take a sharp turn! We're jolting back to October 1960, when a courageous 60-second phone call changed the course of history forever.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was just trying to grab a bite at a department store restaurant in Atlanta. But because of the color of his skin, he was snatched up like a criminal! Now the southern authorities already hated this guy, so they saw their chance when...
The Courage of Selflessness
How is it we all know the icon that is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, but barely anyone has heard of Stanley Levinson?! Let us fix this wrong today! Levinson was the genius wordsmith ghostwriter behind countless iconic MLK speeches that stirred our souls! He also orchestrated money moves funding the movement. He did it humbly from the shadows, lifting up his friend to fame and fanfare, never seeking shine. Unfortunately, President Kennedy caught wind that Levinson might harbor communist...
Chapter 9
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Summary
"Courage is Calling" offers a thoughtful exploration of what true courage looks like in ordinary life. True courage often starts small—a difficult email, a call, or some minor act of sacrifice. It means facing fears, not lacking them entirely. Quiet courage still lies within each of us, waiting to step up when needed to light the way ahead. With listening ears and willful hearts, we can answer the call.
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About the Author
Author, media strategist, and bookstore owner Ryan Holiday hails from the United States. He is also the host of the podcast called Daily Stoic. The Obstacle is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key are some of his other books.
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