Courage is like a muscle, we strengthen it by use…

 

Courage is like a muscle,  we strengthen it by use...

I once read that it is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit. And the strength of the spirit is possible only through individual courage. Since the time I was born till now, I have met, observed, and moved around with so many human beings. Perhaps in the earlier years of life, I was not mature enough to understand, but with experience, I feel there has been a major change among human beings after the pandemic. As we saw many of our loved ones affected by different health issues, we started becoming more aware of our physical health, doing exercises, following diet regimes, and maintaining disciplined food habits. But beyond that, one more important parameter we must understand is to ignite and stay aware of our spirit, our deep consciousness. This is only possible when we decide to work hard for it, to never give up on what we truly want to do.

I read in a recently published book a beautiful line: “It is he who beholds, touches, hears, smells, tastes, perceives, thinks, reasons, conceives, acts, whose essence is knowledge, the self. He becomes merged in the supreme, undecaying Atman.” It clearly conveys that anyone who seeks knowledge has the power of reasoning to understand life better. I would add one more parameter here, everything done with a positive attitude and thought. Then, the life of human beings on this universe will bloom beautifully, just like nature blossoms under all conditions.

Recently, I met a family member and a few friends who always wanted to dance but never got the opportunity. They were skeptical about whether they could perform well. Once we decided to go ahead, they began enjoying it, and after a few attempts, they became so good that even they couldn’t believe it! After we finished performing, we all realized that things are never too difficult once we decide to face them courageously. I always remember one of the best statements I ever read in a psychology book: “If you can face yourself in the mirror, you can face anyone in this world.” I truly feel that if you have the muscle of courage in action, nothing is impossible.

A courageous mind can create miracles, it can turn deserts into dense greenery or transform them into vibrant ultramodern cities like Dubai. Transportation has crossed sky limits, artificial intelligence can now generate food and even human-like beings. We have used our minds courageously to establish ultramodern comforts, yet a few courageous minds have strengthened themselves spiritually, to go beyond the mind. It is hard to believe how our divine Lord Krishna could express and narrate such profound wisdom thousands of years ago, when there wasn’t even a trace of scientific understanding!

When I see hearing-impaired or special children, many people assume their minds are not as developed as ours, that their brains have limitations. But when I watch their outstanding performances,vovercoming challenges and working hard every day to live in the “normal” society, I realize their muscle of courage is far stronger than ours. They may not perform like us, but they create magic beyond imagination. I truly feel they are blessed by God and are the real human beings who can change the world. We “normal” humans often subconsciously hold beliefs stemming from fear, scarcity, or lack, but they don’t.

To strengthen the muscle of courage, I have learned from them that one must cultivate daily habits that create positive, inspiring moments focused on goals. For a hearing-impaired child, to hear through hearing aids and recognize their mother or father’s voice is a huge achievement. Hearing the vehicle they travel in is magical for them. Understanding language and speaking in a noisy environment is the biggest and most difficult task they face. Many donors and professionals feel that simply giving a hearing aid is enough, but they fail to understand that hearing happens in the brain, not just the ear. They need time and training to process sound like us, their minds work differently, though their brains are the same.

Another lesson I’ve learned is to always have an attitude of gratitude. The other day, a client asked me, “You give hearing aids for trial on trust, don’t you feel they could cheat you? You’ve given more than 2,500 people free hearing aids; do they really value it?” I promptly replied, “Those who are in real difficulty are the ones who come to us. And if someone helps them, they feel deep gratitude.” Those in true need always appreciate and bless us. Those who take help just for the sake of it may not. We normal humans often measure success in terms of money, but for them, success means reaching the level of being truly human.

I have seen special individuals use the law of attraction in the best possible way through their muscle of courage and a positive, empowering mindset. At every step, they recognize opportunities and make the most of them. Because of that attitude, people treat them better and give them more chances. In today’s world, these opportunities have changed how people perceive them, moving from sympathy to support for independence. They chase what they want, and even if they achieve only a little, they feel proud and motivated to take further action. When we, the so-called “normal” humans, learn from them how to truly strengthen the real muscle of courage, our world will surely become a better place.