On Bravery
I have a question for you: is
bravery the lack of fear?
Let's find out. Bravery is by
definition "feeling no fear". However, it is far different from the
definition. Take an example of the November 2008 Mumbai Terror Attacks that
devastated parts of Mumbai. While there were terrorists with dangerous weapons,
the army and police fought valiantly against them to stop them. Were they not
brave, caring less about their own life for the sake of other people who were
stuck in the terror-stricken buildings held under captivity by flames and
weapons? Of course they were.
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| Patriotism at its best. |
Were they fearless? Did they
not fear death? Did their hands not tremble when they saw their fellow soldiers
getting gunned down one-by-one?
Of course brave people feel
fear.
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| If you were held at gunpoint, would you not plead for life? |
As they say, (almost)
everything is relative, even truth. What we widely accept as the perceived
truth the definition of bravery is but a show of the limitations of mind.
Bravery is not about feeling no fear; it is about suppressing your fears, not
letting them overpower you. Bravery is about knowing or not knowing the
consequences of the unknown, and yet being determined to march ahead, giving
your best.
Fears are of two kinds:
rational and irrational. Rational fears are those which you develop through logical thinking. For example, you fear touching red hot iron. Why? It will
burn you. You fear consequences and thus you learn to fear touching it.
Irrational fears are unfounded, or basically phobias, which, scientific
research shows, reside only in the mind and can be cured.
Fears can be overcome by facing
them. Is fear necessary? Fear has over the years taught us to stay away from
dangerous things and develop solutions to avoid them or face them for
our benefit. So yes, fear is good. When you have fear in you, you feel alive,
provided you do not let it overwhelm you with negativity.
Most fears and myths about the
unknown indicate fear of a miserable life, being worse than you are now, or
even fear of death or life. This is why risks are crucial for success, and also the
hallmark of failure. Fears, when overcome with a leap of faith, result in
something. And something is always better than nothing. Admit it; we don't need
boredom in our lives. Our lives are not meant to be that way.
What is worse than death? A
wasted life is infinitely worse than dying. Nobody is a burden on this world,
nor are they meant to be so, and it is never too late to begin. Once you feel
you have done something for the world, and for yourself, you will learn to
surmount your fears of death, or anything for that matter and live better.
How do we be brave? Fear is a
state of mind, and like all other states of mind, can be altered, diminished or
allowed to take control over us. If we believe there is nothing to fear, the
fear goes away. Not that it changes the reality. Red hot iron will burn you
upon touch whether you fear it or don't (though touching it still isn't a good idea at all). Changing our mindset only makes it
less painful, more bearable.
“The brave man is not he who feels no fear, For that were stupid and irrational; But he, whose noble soul its fear subdues, And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from” - Braille
Cowardice is not the opposite
of courage. It is indifference. We are too indifferent to take risks and make
things happen how we want them to happen, and we say we are safe when away from
what causes fear. In fact, that safety is worth sacrificing. It is worth living
with courage than breathe in fear, or stay cocooned in so-called safety. Safety
in the true sense should mean peace, not a side-effect of indifference.
Are writers not brave? Do they
not write what they honestly feel, truly believe in, lovingly adore, however
absurd or different their ideas and beliefs are? Do they not introduce you to a
different perspective of life, where you know there are bound to be demons of
fear, waiting to pounce and feed upon you, but you still believe in marching
ahead with the glow in your heart, hiding all darkness? Darkness cannot be
hidden, of course. The absence of light is darkness, and you can hide light,
but can you hide darkness? In the same way, can you hide the darkness of your
mind? However hard you try, your darkness will ultimately show, and you will
obviously continue to get hurt in life. What is the solution? Let the light in
you shine. Smile a lot. Bring in positivity. The demons of fear will weaken,
and when you know you are stronger than them, you will have won. That is
bravery.
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| Mark Twain knew it all the way. |
(Music for the soul: Brave - by Sara Bareilles)
So no, bravery is not the lack
of fear. Bravery is the state of mind despite fear. It's time we change some
prejudices.
Live life, love life.
-----
Yashraj Talan is a
self-proclaimed sane person, yet to be forced under psychiatric consultation
due to lack of any scientific proof to the contrary. Apart from troubling the
world with his annoying but innovative antics, he also finds time to sleep and
wake up every day as well as live life beyond his online existence, fighting
procrastination every few hours a day.
-----
THE HAZY ROAD
Many a map I consulted,
Many a call for help I did
shout,
The darkness was overpowering-
Strange animal calls dominated
the bout.
The path was hazy:
The going, not so easy,
The cloudy day was dark,
I, fearless, went far and far
Until I came to the end of
forestry,
The orange sun shining bright
And there I stood at the end of
the woods,
Thinking, which hazy road I had
travelled by…
