Small acts of bravery

Hi dear ones

I hope you are doing well and maintaining your stability, good mood, and physical fitness.

This month I'm sharing with you a reflection on courage, which is an excerpt from my personal journal.

This reflection stems from a meditation on one of the principles of Yoga, "Satya" (The search for truth), and on lying.

Why do we lie? What does lying evoke in us? Is lying always reprehensible? Can there be "white" lies? Why do we sometimes lie to ourselves?

Some lies can move us or make us smile, while others make us very angry. Lying is not always a sign of cowardice. People have heroically protected information or individuals during wartime. Less heroically, some make false statements or "bluff" at the risk of jeopardizing their careers or facing legal consequences. Lying can require a lot of courage...It's always interesting to question the motivations behind a lie.

Is the lie fueled by fear or by the desire to protect someone or something?

Sometimes fear is a powerful driver that can push us to lie to the point of blinding us to the possible consequences of our lie. When we avoid or postpone a medical appointment that we dread, or when we lie to a close friend, our boss, or our spouse, have we really accepted the consequences on our health, our career, or our relationship? Or have we just avoided thinking about it?

On the great highway of our daily lives, lying can quickly become an easy "exit" to take.

It can rapidly become a familiar habit every time a difficulty or danger arises. Lying allows us to escape situations we are afraid to face, much like horses develop the bad habit of avoiding obstacles rather than jumping them, a kind of moral laziness.

Yet courage, like a muscle, can be worked on and strengthened. But only we can firm up this muscle and change the direction of things by making small decisions in our daily lives.

Only we can honestly analyze our decisions in light of our values and know what truly motivates them. Only we can accept or refuse whether they put us or those around us in danger. Only we can recognize our own lies and accept to face our weaknesses.

I am convinced that there is no such thing as a small act of bravery: a medical exam or a driving test, a jog or a discussion, even a phone call, a handshake, or a look can require A LOT of courage.

Each small step strengthens our intention and determination to move forward in the direction that suits us.

Two roads diverged in a wood, I took the one less traveled, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

With love and good vibes ❤