Hello there, I recently came across a post about courage featuring a video of a young man jumping from the top of one skyscraper to another to illustrate courage. The scene was both scary and surreal, but it turned out the person was a professional jumper. What caught my attention was a comment on the post describing the jumper’s action as “Courage or borderline stupidity and irresponsible behavior.” According to Sushil Verma, courage involves taking action in the direction of a significant positive outcome, even when facing tremendous pressure and certain limitations. Sushil’s perspective rings true when considering life’s realities. Often, we find ourselves grappling with choices between fear, courage, or stupidity. Fear can lead to inaction or actions resulting in net negative results. Courage, on the other hand, encompasses both action and inaction in the face of fear and the possibility of failure or loss. While stupidity and courage may seem alike, the key difference is that decisions and actions are perceived as stupid when the person is unaware of the consequences. We’ve all experienced these three conditions at different times, and that’s why I’d like to share three stories with you, illustrating moments of my own stupidity, courage, and fear, respectively. I hope you can glean one or two lessons from these experiences.
A. Stupidity: Sheer Ignorance
Recently, I was reflecting on an incident that happened when I was between the ages of 10 and 13. One day, I visited a family friend’s house in our neighborhood. No adults were around, and they were tasked with fetching water from their well. It was a tedious task because the well was very deep, and you could barely see the bottom. I was visiting to play, so I joined them in fetching water to get it done quickly. As I began fetching with the kit (locally known as “doro”), the kit rope accidentally slipped from my hand. In response, we borrowed a catcher from a neighbor, and as we were close to retrieving the kit, I noticed the rope connected to the catcher was about to snap. Out of fear of losing the borrowed catcher, I wanted to go down into the well to retrieve it and the fetching kit. That was very risky, and thank goodness the other two boys with me felt there was no need for that. The boy holding the catcher rope continued to pull, and ultimately, we retrieved both the catcher and the fetching kit without me attempting something very “stupid.” Although averted, the incident was a near-death experience. Imagine if I had successfully acted upon my stupidity; the story might have been different today.
B . Courage: Trying Again and Again
If we’re not particularly close, you might be unaware of the challenging journeys I’ve undertaken in my academic pursuits. These include navigating scarce opportunities, persevering through numerous disappointments, and confronting the inherent challenges of forging new knowledge. One noteworthy chapter in this journey involves my application for my current scholarship, a process that unfolded after my wedding. Initially, I hesitated to apply for two main reasons. Firstly, I had previously applied for this scholarship three times without success. Secondly, I had secured an opportunity in Europe. Despite these factors, I mustered the courage to submit my application just a day before the deadline. Moreover, I attended the interview while simultaneously navigating the process of obtaining a Schengen visa for the other opportunity. Skipping ahead, the moment I received the “YES” email confirming my selection for the scholarship was nothing short of euphoric. I couldn’t contain my excitement and promptly shared the news with my wife. Reflecting on the entire process, it was undeniably a leap of faith. I take pride in the decision not to hold back or succumb to the temptation of giving up. This experience reinforces the power of courage, asserting that a “NO” is not the final answer.
C. Fear: Bad Action or Inaction
Fear can cause both action and inaction. I remember investing some money in cryptocurrency two years ago during the pandemic. I didn’t want to miss out on the crypto boom, and a good friend advised me to invest an amount I was willing to lose. As you might guess, I dismissed his caution. I was enticed by the potential profits, as I understood that a larger portfolio size could yield significant gains based on observed trends in certain coins. Fortunately, my speculations proved profitable, but the grip of greed and the fear of missing out on more profits prevented me from promptly withdrawing my capital.
I chose to leave the money invested, and within a few weeks, the market took a downturn. This is what one type of fear can cause. Another fear, which is more terrible, is inaction. I grapple with or constantly fight this fear from limiting me every day. This fear of inaction comes in the form of self-sabotage through unconscious whispers of our minds like: “You are not good enough,” “You have more time,” “It’s impossible,” “You are a village boy,” “You are not rich,” and so forth. While the initial fear taught me the rules of investing through a challenging experience, the fear of inaction provides no lessons. Instead, it yields regrets for opportunities not pursued and actions not taken.
Conclusion
As we enter the last month of the year, I encourage you to reflect on your own journey. What fear-driven actions or inactions have shaped your path? What courageous moves have you made, are making, or plan to make? Acknowledge the moments of stupidity, courage, and fear, for it is from these experiences that we glean valuable lessons. Think about your own stories and perhaps share them with me?
Thank you for taking the time to read my reflections.
I am Samuel Ayankoso, The Quester
Quotes
“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” — Marie Curie
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” — Marilyn Monroe
“Courage to me is doing something daring, no matter how afraid, insecure, intimidated, alone, unworthy, incapable, ridiculed, or whatever other paralyzing emotion you might feel. Courage is taking action… no matter what. So you’re afraid? Be afraid. Be scared silly to the point you’re trembling and nauseous, but do it anyway!” — Richelle E. Goodrich
“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 is the complement of fear. A man who is fearless cannot be courageous. He is also a fool.” — Robert A. Heinlein
