Heroism is as much about inner strength as it is about acts of physical courage

More wisdom from Lama Surya Das

All heroes have at least one thing in common. They don’t run away from their fears. Heroes are just as afraid as the rest of us, but they have learned how to confront and walk through their terrors. Quite simply, heroes aren’t afraid of being afraid. When faced with difficulties, a true hero is able to make courageous choices and decisions. He or she is able to say: “This isn’t necessarily what I want to do , but it’s what I have to do.” Heroes have learned to give themselves to life, even when there is no pleasure involved in doing so. Generosity of spirit is part of heroism: holding yourself back can impose all varieties of mind-made limitations.

Anyone who has experienced a major loss, whether that loss be the death of a loved one or the death of a long-cherished dream, is being asked to acknowledge and rely on a inner capacity for the heroic.

Heroism is as much about inner strength as it is about acts of physical courage.

Marquis Bureau