Is It Possible Or Probable?

Definition of Courage – Taking action despite perceived or actual risk

I am often asked, “Why did you include perceived risk in your definition of Courage?” To which I share, “Because most of the fears we let control us begin in our own heads.”  While it is true we all have situations in our lives which involve some level of actual risk—when we explore the fears behind it, we find something deeper. After all, how many of the things we spend time worrying about actually happen? 

These concerns and fears keep us up at night or can dominate our thoughts while we are alone driving in our cars.  These “what if’s” slow us down or can have the power to bring us to a full stop.  It is easy to become consumed by them. Yet, when we look backwards at those worries, we realize few of them ever actually occur.

It is perceived risk which can dominate a person’s life. Every time a person makes the choice to listen to those voices in their head and bow down to fear, it becomes easier to make that same choice again.  Over time, listening to their fears becomes a habit and an individual stagnates.

It is disheartening to watch someone with loads of talent and opportunity get stuck because their focus is on the perceived risk in a situation.  While it is true something going wrong is possible, is it probable? Quite often those who wallow in the perceived risk of a situation get those two words—possible versus probable—confused.  How often does the fear of something possibly going wrong doom a talented individual to mediocrity? I certainly don’t want that to become me.

A classic example of “possible vs probable” is the situation in which an individual continues to avoid a difficult conversation.  The truth is, we have all done this.  We perceive the conversation will go badly, therefore we avoid it.  But the funny thing is, when we finally d