Sometimes All You Need is Twenty Seconds of Insane Courage

You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.

Without courage what are we but a man without faith, a women with no belief or a hopeless child. I have learnt that life is simple, yet as human beings we tend to complicate it. We overlook our abilities in achieving incredible feats, our abilities in overcoming large obstacles and our abilities in becoming powerful individuals.

Adversity

When I look back at the periods of adversity that challenged me, I sometimes wonder how I managed to make it through. Was it blind faith? Was it positivity? Was it the sheer determination to overcome whatever I was faced with? I'm not so sure. What I am sure of, however, is that during these periods of adversity I was carried by small bouts of insane courage.

The courage to wake up, follow my routine and have a positive day.

The courage to say "good morning" to someone, even when I didn't feel like conversing.

The courage to stare adversity in the face, even when the weight of the world was on my shoulders.

Without twenty seconds of insane courage, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

When I speak to others, I learn that each and every one of us has the ability to change the world. We, as human beings, have been conditioned to believe that life really comes down to "the luck of the draw." We are simply dealt our hand and we then need to play the cards we are dealt.

This, so I have learnt, is not true. Life is not about our experiences, but how we perceive our experiences.

Mindset

Looking back on my life, it was evident that I didn't have a winning hand. Typically, as we do, we see ourselves in a singular form at times of disbelief and disappointment. We forget that with eight billion people on planet earth, someone else will understand.

When we look at others, we see only what they choose to share. The exterior shell. The social media lifestyle. The extravagant purchases and expensive holidays. The happy relationships and incredible friendships. In most cases, this isn't a reflection of the truth. It is the perception sold to us to allow us to conclude our own views of a person. It is a bias that is neither accurate or honest.

Genuine honesty is born when people chose to be real, raw and uncut. The unedited version, no filters. Someone who wears their heart on their sleeve and isn't afraid to put it on display. In truth, those people are usually a rare breed. I have met some incredible people in my life, thus far, and can confidently say that those who have had to overcome adversity are those who have depth, meaning and understanding. They are able to see the thread between the truth and a lie.

These individuals faced challenges I wouldn't wish on another person, but were able to find their insane courage and overcome their battles. This developed a backbone of confidence, strength and wisdom. However, it is only through these experiences that these characteristics are born. False prophets exist, but their legacy dies.

Each and every one of us have our own stories, none alike. That is what makes us unique.

We do not need to compare race, sex or appearance but we need only to learn from each other's triumphs and tribulations. It is not who we are that defines us, but who we are to others. I have met many a man who has faced challenges beyond belief, that still chooses to put others before himself. I have even met women who have climbed mountains, for causes that define the entire world. These very people are the soldiers of change.

Your brain makes up its mind up to ten seconds before you realise it.

The Detail

We all have 86,400 seconds in a day. This means that each and every day, we have the ability to make 8,640 conscious decisions. This means that every single day, I am able to change the dynamics of my environment, mood and mind with only twenty seconds of insane courage. A simple thought has the power to shift my entire mindset, to eradicate any form of negativity or doubt, compounded by the basis of hope and faith.

Some days, I tend to overlook the beauty of life. I forget that waking up is an achievement in itself. Having the ability to remember a simple dream, brush my teeth, see my reflection in the mirror, get out of bed and have family and friends around me is a blessing that is overlooked more than I am proud to say. For others, these simple attributes of life aren't always so easily attainable, with some never experiencing them.

With so much noise and with the constant notifications of life, I have been the victim of my own disbelief. I have struggled to see the simplicity in finding inner peace, love and harmony and allowing that to drive me into success and wonder. If only I had learnt to take some time away from the distractions, would I have seen how simple it really is.

Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.

Resilience is born from adversity and insane courage is the byproduct of never giving up, never giving in and always having hope and faith. Once I changed the narrative, I distinctly remember coming to the realisation that I always had the ability. Courage lived within me, like it does with all of you. Courage is in our DNA, it is within our genetic code.

Courage

Initially, courage coupled with faith and hope only helped me survive the impossible. It took the driving seat, while I sat back and hoped the road would clear. But that isn't what life is about. Life is about the challenges and adversity. Life is about the obstacles and difficulties. Without any of this, courage wouldn't be the byproduct. Without any of this, you wouldn't meet incredible people.

When I decided to accept adversity and harvest my courage, I changed my life. I understood that life is not about our experiences, but by how we perceive them. Good things happen. Bad things happen. We cannot control these factors, but we can control how we respond to the stimulus.

Questions I Ask Myself

1. How do I use this adversity to springboard me into something positive?
2. What can I learn from this challenge?
3. How can this lesson help others?

See, we cannot avoid it. Like the sun and the moon, it is inevitable that we will move from dark to light. We have accepted this as fact, just like we need to accept the very facts within our lives. Harness these times and use them as periods of motivation to change your life; to change the world.

I am a believer that we experience events in our lives that are designed to teach us and educate us. These events are not always happy and positive, but if you see the silver lining, you will always see and experience the positive outcome and result. Life is what you make it. Positivity breeds positivity. Like attracts like. You are not defined by your experiences, but but how you let your experiences define you.

How Do You Find Courage?

1. Focus More on What You Want Than What You Don’t Want

2. Become Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

3. Change Your Perspective on Failure

4. Get to Know Your Unknowns

We have so many opportunities in the day to change our minds. With every passing minute, we have five opportunities to change the narrative. Instead of seeking courage, let courage seek you. Send that message. Sing that song. Enjoy the moment.

If you ever need to find hope, remember sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.

If you have found this article interesting thus far, you may also like to read a few other articles of mine:

How I Created a Test to Further Enhance My Mind and Focus (pt.1)

Owning our Shadow Self: Unlocking Innovation, Creativity & Intuition

Cognitive Biases that are Warping Our Perception of Reality

Emotional Intelligence, The 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) & Technical Assimilation

How to Operate in a World of Resistance & Obstacles

Please note the following: These views are my own; supported by my own perspective, knowledge, education and experience.