From: Mentalhealth.com
Courage is our willingness to face adversity. The world is constantly testing us; thus there is no way to avoid adversity. Evolution has provided us with effective ways to deal with short-term adversity, using either the excitatory (“fight-or-flight”) or inhibitory (“shutting-down”) mode of our nervous system. Unfortunately, these excitatory or inhibitory modes of our nervous system are only effective against short-term stressors (e.g., brief threats of attack or starvation). These nervous system responses are ill-suited for responding to modern long-term stressors. Thus anxiety and depressive disorders represent the malfunctioning of our nervous system’s excitatory or inhibitory modes. When our ability to face adversity is properly functioning; we face adversity with determination, self-confidence, optimism, independence, Extraversion and with the ability to handle social separation or rejection.
Questions to ask yourself.
Courage:
Are you facing your problems and your fears?
Stability:
- Do you maintain a calm composure?
- Do you maintain stable and peaceful personal relationships
Determination:
- Do you pick yourself up and try again when you fail?
- Do you realize that repeated failure is the price of success?
Self-Confidence:
- Do you have a good opinion of yourself and your abilities; are you socially confident and out-going?
Optimism:
- Are you hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst? Do you see opportunity in your difficulty?
Independence:
- Do you have the courage to do the right thing even when other people disagree?
Ability To Handle Separation or Rejection:
- Can you adequately handle conflict or rejection?