Understanding True Courage

True courage, false courage and liquid courage. We’re mainly going to talk about the first two. Courage is something people have been trying to explain for a long time and after many years we learn that it is the line between fear and total recklessness.

The Balance Between Fear and Recklessness

Cowards are overcome by too much fear (false evidence appearing real) of things they shouldn’t be afraid of. Reckless men with too much confidence will take unnecessary chances when danger is looking at them right in the face. Like the joke, what are a hillbilly’s last words? “Watch this, y’all.”

The courageous person finds a balance between foolish recklessness and out of control fear. The person with true courage fears what should be feared and uses the fear for confidence and for the right reasons:

• Self preservation
• Protection of others
• Honor and respect
• Accomplishing necessary tasks

“Courage is the ability to recognize our rational fears and not to show fear and still be able to act or react properly.”

That is a good explanation of courage, but it does not capture what courageous people do or hillbillies.

Recognizing True Courage

After judging over 1,000 cage fights. I get to see people all the time who recognize and face their fear, but I would not call them all courageous—some have false courage or their heart is bigger than all their skills.

For me, courage, I know it when I see it! When I see true courage in action it inspires me to do noble things. Courageous people inspire me to be more courageous and to do more courageous positive things.

Applications in Daily Life

Courage can apply in your everyday life and you don’t even have to be a fighter! If you are a fighter, you can use the courage you get from fighting and apply it in your everyday life.

Every person hopes they have the courage to get through all the tests and trials they will have to go through on earth. I tell my students learn to be humble, because life is going to humble you. Before people can take on big challenges the individual must develop their courage.

Developing Your Courage

Courage is like a muscle that can be developed and get stronger. With courage comes confidence! They go hand and hand.

One of my young students (18 years old) may have shown false courage recently. When a fight broke out, he tried to fight with too many people at a party and was swarmed by gang members and stabbed to death with over 30 stab wounds.

There are many different types of courage, every person should seek how to develop a courageous heart and look into other types of courage. Liquid courage mostly develops the false type. There is:

1. Physical courage - facing bodily harm or physical challenges
2. Intellectual courage - questioning your own beliefs and thinking
3. Moral courage - standing up for what’s right despite consequences
4. Social courage - risking embarrassment or rejection for authenticity
5. Spiritual courage - facing the unknown and questioning existence

Practical Ways to Build Courage

Here are some practical ways to develop your courage:

1. Start small: Take small risks daily to build your courage muscle
2. Face fears directly: Identify specific fears and create a plan to address them
3. Use visualization: Mentally rehearse brave actions before taking them
4. Study courageous people: Learn from historical and contemporary examples
5. Develop physical confidence: Physical training builds mental resilience
6. Accept failure: Understand that courage often involves failing and trying again

Like I have mentioned in other my columns, it’s not always about winning a fight (on the street)—it’s about survival and getting home to dinner. Try not to show false courage but work on developing your true courage.

Let me end with a quote: “Tuff is not how you act or look, tuff is how you train”.