Courage and Strength -where do you find them?

[scissorhands]

While feeding the sparrows and having my soy latte and muffin this morning I couldnt help but wonder where have all the examples of bravery, courage and strength gone.

During the ACC campaign I was filled with a sense of pride and kinship toward those willing to take up battle against the white devil slavemaster.

I now have a personal demon or dragon to slay..... and the weapon that I will need will be strength of purpose and courage. When I cast about and view others with problems, it seems to me that strength and courage is also needed, for themselves too.

The Chinese talk of accumulating chi within the tan tien, in the west we say 'having the guts' or of being 'gutless'.

What is the secret? If say someone was diagnosed with cancer for example, rather than finding information (which is another kettle of fish) how does that someone find the strength to fight off the enemy.

So my question is: if strength and courage lie in the solar plexus, can this force be increased?

[onearmedbandit]

When you need it, you will find it. I am a chronic pain sufferer, 24hrs a day 7 days a week, and after my accident at xmas it's only started getting worse. I take no medication to combat the pain, otherwise I'd still be popping 35 pills a day. Instead I find the strength within me to, I was going to say 'fight my enemy' but that's wrong. What I do is find the strength to give up the fight, to release my mind from the physical pain, to let the pain flush over me and do it's thing.

When you're faced with a situation that you can't back out of or run away from, you will find the courage and strength you need. Until then, you will have no idea of how you can cope.

[edit] Oh yeah, in my case, when you let your body get attacked with incredible pain and just ride the wave, the feeling, the rush, it's the most amazing feeling ever. Almost out of body, the pain takes over everything but you switch everything off. It's hard to explain I suppose.

[Okey Dokey]

I find courage in my brain more than my solar plexus. To have knowledge can give confidence and strength. When spirits flag I can review my information and remind myself I am correct and doing the best thing.

Not sure if this helps or not, but I hope it does I wish you well in your fight.

[sugilite:Me]

Work out the most important things in your life that you hold dear. Focus and draw strength from those. Fear and worry are your enemy, succumb to those and you will leak personal energy from your solar plexus like a sieve. When you feel that happening, focus on your breath taking yourself back to your most basic functions, then move your focus on the end goal you want to achieve and the steps needed to get there, even if it is the next small step. A Hope Indian elder once said to me, "Anthony, worrying is praying for what you don't want".

I'm not saying banishing worry and anxiety is easy, but you are truly the master of your own destiny when you focus on what you do have power over, rather than what you perceive you do not.

Onwards and upwards you go

[Headbanger]

I keep mine in my pants.

Every so often I reach down to check its still there.

[ynot slow]

Each is different,my case,after a few tests etc,and not knowing,my brother said to me "what if it's cancer,kidney,liver problems"my reply "what if,not much I can do",and basically that's been my mantra.
Sure it was cancer but could've been kidney and the wait for donor etc to me is worse,sure saw a heap of people with me at radiation,ya looka around and think,fark they're worse than me(well some maybe not but near enough),then realise you've been through testing,diagnosis and surgery,now on the homeward leg with chemo and radiation.Saw many ladies who lost hair due to treatment and all cheerful,that gives you inspiration.

Gotta say my idea was to keep positive(even when people naively said chemo,hell you'll feel crook every 1 week out of 4 or similar)and still is,7 years later and having half a lung removed last year to go with original cancer.

Each time on the bike on a fine day I think to myself aint life farkin great,should've been dead 7yrs ago but for great surgeon and family who finally got to me to see my gp.

[Suntoucher]

Wanted for questioning:



Turns out you had it inside you all along.

Also been told the Wizard of Australia will give you it.

[marie_speeds]

Awww there's a lot of Bromance going on here.....

[Paul in NZ]

Mate - if it was as simple as finding the place that sells courage and strength then it wouldnt be a big deal eh? Courage is like love; it must have hope to nourish it. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte ~

Stick your head down and plug away one step at a time - its the only way

[scissorhands]

Judy Garland (Dorothy): Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West): I'll get you my pretty...and your little dog too!

Ray Bolger (Scarecrow): I haven't got a brain... only straw.
Judy Garland (Dorothy): How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
Ray Bolger (Scarecrow): I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
Judy Garland (Dorothy): Yes, I guess you're right.

Judy Garland (Dorothy): Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh, my!

[marie_speeds]

You could always ask Jack, Jim, Johnny or their mate Sam Bucca. They'll know..... they always know...

But judging by your last post sounds like you may have already

[Genie]

We are who we are, we are all put together differently so what works for one will not neccesarily work for another. We all handle things differently and ae our inner strength is there and we 'use' it with out actually being aware that we have 'it'.

Not that I'm overly a big believer but I've always gone by the saying...God doesn't give us more than we can handle...that has helped me find 'something' to get through some mighty big shit over the years.

You're stronger than you think...you already have in you what you need and when you need 'it', 'it' will be there.

[Paul in NZ]

We are who we are, we are all put together differently so what works for one will not neccesarily work for another. We all handle things differently and ae our inner strength is there and we 'use' it with out actually being aware that we have 'it'.

Not that I'm overly a big believer but I've always gone by the saying...God doesn't give us more than we can handle...that has helped me find 'something' to get through some mighty big shit over the years.

You're stronger than you think...you already have in you what you need and when you need 'it', 'it' will be there.

Yup - thats about it, coated in sugar but about it....

btw - let me know if I can help ya out - courage is often tied up with friends eh?

[Edbear]

Yup - thats about it, coated in sugar but about it....

btw - let me know if I can help ya out - courage is often tied up with friends eh?

We don't know how strong we are until we face the odds. I've nearly died five times, (so far...), according to the Docs I'm not supposed to be alive. While friends and family have expressed amazement that I could be so cheerful and positive while in that situation, they needed to understand that a large part if it was their care, their concern and their unstinting support.

Being near death with the associated pain and sickness, not knowing if you will pull through, is a lonely place to be and being able to focus on those around you is a genuine life-saver. In ICU my family and friends were a constant and at night when they had to leave I counted on the closeness of the nurses to stay conscious and positive - they gave me strength and comfort.

For me, I couldn't quit, couldn't succumb because I didn't want to bereave my family, I fought to stay alive for them. Did it work? Would I have survived regardless? I don't really know, but I gained the strength to endure from those around me and, for me, from my faith.

[Genestho]

I've witnessed many feats of courage and strength over the last few years to last a lifetime.

I admire people from so many places, so many walks of life - as most have faced - in different forms - trauma, loss and adversity, not one would've thought they'd have had it in them to do what they do, or have done.

For some, it takes courage and brute strength - just to live.

If you have hope, faith, and a goal, the rest will flow naturally.

I have been called stubborn more than once, I prefer to never give in, no matter what.

I think you'd be suprised what you have inside when pushed to the edge.