(Featured Image from Pixabay)

(I wrote this piece few years ago, and it is even more relevant today. When others succeed where you’ve failed, they ain’t luckier than you, probably just more courageous. So, what’s so special about COURAGE? )

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You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.

– Aristotle

(Reposted from Things You Must Do This Year (2): Above All Else Live Courageously)

When onlookers scrutinize people with proven success in their area of interest – especially places where they’ve struggled and failed, it is popular to assume that these iconic achievers are merely lucky.

However, there is no such thing as luck in the issue of enduring success. Real success always has a price tag, of which courage is chief …

Therefore, when next you see people who have achieved success where you have struggled and failed, please understand that they were never exempt from your kind of struggles, but probably faced even more and overcame. 

… being Courageous is not anyone’s prerogative. It is a choice and a decision which anyone can freely make at any time. @funmie_adebayo

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In all probability, life also bullied, ridiculed and threatened them like you. However, they encountered success as they defied the odds against them, weathered every storm and laboured their way up courageously.

In other words, chief among the attributes which differentiate them from you is courage.

In summary,  these iconic people were able to fulfill the very tough requirements for success because they have learned to live life courageously by design – probably from their upbringing or what they’ve been exposed to in the past.

Nevertheless, being courageous is not anyone’s prerogative. It is a  choice and a decision which anyone can freely make at any time. Therefore, if you’ve lost out on success previously because you’ve always caved in under life’s pressures and chickened out of every opposition, having never had any opportunity to learn to be bold, courage is a decision and a choice you can begin to make from today.

The popular 20th century actor, John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.”

The popular 20th century actor, John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.” @funmie_adebayo

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Likewise courage is not the absence of haters, oppositions, life pressures and other odds against you, or the lack of the fear of them. Rather, courage is the choice to keep doing what you have to do in spite of it all.

Courage is not the absence of haters, oppositions, life pressures and other odds against you, or the lack of the fear of them. Rather, courage is the choice to keep doing what you have to do in spite of it all. @funmie_adebayo

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Attempting to achieve success at any endeavour is always challenging to begin with. However as you paddle upstream courageously with time, you enter into a kind of ‘cruise mode’ – a place where life seems to place you beyond the jurisdiction of the odds against you.

At that state, the things working for you will suddenly begin to outweigh things against you to the extent that those contrary things start lining up to even contribute to your success if anything…

Aristotle one said, “You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” So profound!

A man will never achieve anything worthwhile without courage. It is that serious.

A man will never achieve anything worthwhile without courage. It is that serious. @funmie_adebayo

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If there is one attribute you must desire and pray for above every other thing this New Year, it’s got to be the Courage to do what you have to do despite all odds.

with time, you enter into a kind of ‘cruise mode’ – a place where life seems to place you beyond the jurisdiction of the odds against you.. @funmie_adebayo

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Please make this a daily prayer and desire this New Year:

Dear Lord, please take me beyond the jurisdiction of my paralyzing fears and struggles this New Year. Please cause me to be strong and very courageous- that I might be able to make the vital decision and take key steps necessary for my destiny. Amen.

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame. .. Consider him who endured… such hostility… so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Heb 12: 1-3 (ESV)

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