So, I promised effort posts and here's the first one. Apologies it took a while, I needed some time to get my thoughts in order. It did give me a chance to shitpost for a while, haven't done that in years, good times. Anyways,
What is courage?
The simple, sanitized version everyone knows is that courage is the ability, the resolve to confront fear, danger and maybe adversity. For a few who dig slightly deeper, it is the willingness to put oneself in harm's way for his or her own beliefs. All of these are true. None of these are enough. These are all surface-level takes that miss some of the fundamental aspects of courage. But to understand it properly, first we need to understand fear.
What is fear?
Fear is the apprehension you feel when confronted with something that may harm you or what you care about. Again, this is the popular take and it is also the most basic, skin-deep understanding of it. Fear is so much more, so much worse than simple worry. Fear is the end of your ability to rationally choose your own actions. It is to be paralyzed with doubt and indecision. To be accepting of almost anything in search of safety. Fear clouds your mind, breaks your spirit and makes you malleable, pliable to outside control. To be afraid is to be a slave, both to others and to your most base emotions, to be unable to actualize your best self, to be less than half of what you were meant to be. To lose your potential, your future, maybe even yourself.
In a very real sense, fear is death.
And so, if to fear is to die then to not fear, to be courageous, is to live.
Courage is life. The ability, one which everyone has, deep down inside, to confront adversity, to reject mediocrity, to strive for your own self-improvement. To reach the limit of your abilities and break through it in pursuit of your goals. To embrace yourself and maximize, realize the potential you have. Courage is to never give up on yourself, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Courage is to have a future.
But beyond that, courage is also duty. A duty to God (or nature, if you will) to not waste the potential you have been blessed with. A duty you have to yourself to be the best you can be, despite civilization working against you. A duty to your family, to realize your potential, to not render their sacrifices, their investment in you meaningless and to take them with you to whatever peak you decide to conquer. It is a duty to your people, to be an integral part of the whole, a strong link in the chain that keeps destruction and entropy at bay. To be a pillar in the foundation of your family, your nation, your people.
But courage is also risk. The faceless mob, envious of your stature, will try to pull you down to their level. The gormless parasites, trying to control all aspects of society from the shadows, will try to shatter your fear and destroy your life in an attempt to force your submission. A few misanthropic fools when they see your lack of fear, may even attempt to claim your life, for you will be too insulting or too dangerous to them and their twisted beliefs. To be courageous is to be ready to keep your faith, your morality, even in the face of your own death.
So be it. If I am to die, I will die standing. I will not compromise myself. I will not disappoint my family. I will not abandon my people. And neither should you.
Ultimately, to have courage is to reject the pressure of the hostile world and live according to your morals. It is to be a rock, tall and proud, in a sea of faceless mediocrity. To be a shepherd in a flock of sheep. To be a leader of men.
So, have courage. Stand strong. Never falter, never submit, never compromise with yourself, your family, your people or your ideals.
Be a King, never a slave.
And show this world what a courageous man can truly do.
P. S. This is, by no means, an exhaustive definition of courage. It is my, possibly foolish, almost certainly incomplete, understanding on the topic. It is, in part, my own personal musings but also a call, to each and every one of you who read it, to reject any fear you may have and embrace the courage you are born with. Maybe it will help someone, maybe it will not. I don't know but I felt I had to try.
In any case, your thoughts on the topic are more than welcome.
What is courage?
The simple, sanitized version everyone knows is that courage is the ability, the resolve to confront fear, danger and maybe adversity. For a few who dig slightly deeper, it is the willingness to put oneself in harm's way for his or her own beliefs. All of these are true. None of these are enough. These are all surface-level takes that miss some of the fundamental aspects of courage. But to understand it properly, first we need to understand fear.
What is fear?
Fear is the apprehension you feel when confronted with something that may harm you or what you care about. Again, this is the popular take and it is also the most basic, skin-deep understanding of it. Fear is so much more, so much worse than simple worry. Fear is the end of your ability to rationally choose your own actions. It is to be paralyzed with doubt and indecision. To be accepting of almost anything in search of safety. Fear clouds your mind, breaks your spirit and makes you malleable, pliable to outside control. To be afraid is to be a slave, both to others and to your most base emotions, to be unable to actualize your best self, to be less than half of what you were meant to be. To lose your potential, your future, maybe even yourself.
In a very real sense, fear is death.
And so, if to fear is to die then to not fear, to be courageous, is to live.
Courage is life. The ability, one which everyone has, deep down inside, to confront adversity, to reject mediocrity, to strive for your own self-improvement. To reach the limit of your abilities and break through it in pursuit of your goals. To embrace yourself and maximize, realize the potential you have. Courage is to never give up on yourself, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Courage is to have a future.
But beyond that, courage is also duty. A duty to God (or nature, if you will) to not waste the potential you have been blessed with. A duty you have to yourself to be the best you can be, despite civilization working against you. A duty to your family, to realize your potential, to not render their sacrifices, their investment in you meaningless and to take them with you to whatever peak you decide to conquer. It is a duty to your people, to be an integral part of the whole, a strong link in the chain that keeps destruction and entropy at bay. To be a pillar in the foundation of your family, your nation, your people.
But courage is also risk. The faceless mob, envious of your stature, will try to pull you down to their level. The gormless parasites, trying to control all aspects of society from the shadows, will try to shatter your fear and destroy your life in an attempt to force your submission. A few misanthropic fools when they see your lack of fear, may even attempt to claim your life, for you will be too insulting or too dangerous to them and their twisted beliefs. To be courageous is to be ready to keep your faith, your morality, even in the face of your own death.
So be it. If I am to die, I will die standing. I will not compromise myself. I will not disappoint my family. I will not abandon my people. And neither should you.
Ultimately, to have courage is to reject the pressure of the hostile world and live according to your morals. It is to be a rock, tall and proud, in a sea of faceless mediocrity. To be a shepherd in a flock of sheep. To be a leader of men.
So, have courage. Stand strong. Never falter, never submit, never compromise with yourself, your family, your people or your ideals.
Be a King, never a slave.
And show this world what a courageous man can truly do.
P. S. This is, by no means, an exhaustive definition of courage. It is my, possibly foolish, almost certainly incomplete, understanding on the topic. It is, in part, my own personal musings but also a call, to each and every one of you who read it, to reject any fear you may have and embrace the courage you are born with. Maybe it will help someone, maybe it will not. I don't know but I felt I had to try.
In any case, your thoughts on the topic are more than welcome.
> if I am to die
Oh, mortal human, you ARE going to die! It is not an "if"!
There's a poem I love called "do not go gentle into that good night". "Rage, rage against the dying of the light!" We are all going to die, one way or the other, and we do not even get to choose how, where or when we die. But we DO get to choose how we will live!
The black pill is a wakeup call. No, there is NOTHING you can do that will save this world or yourself from it. THERE IS NO HOPE IN THIS WORLD! And yet, when confronted with that reality, you have only two options: Do NOTHING and die quietly, or do SOMETHING and rage against death!
Courage is that rage against death and destruction and all the demonic forces in the world combined.
That is the ultimate white pill. At the end of despair there is the hope that cannot be taken away by defeat and death!