I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise.

- Dawna Markova

What is Courage? The American Heritage Dictionary defines courage as "The state of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger with self- possession, confidence, and resolution." Notice that Courage is not defined in terms of a lack of fear. Being Fearless and being Courageous are not synonymous. In fact, they are, in a way, mutually exclusive. Courage is not acting without fear; courage is acting despite fear.

The next question is, what is "danger"? Ah, there's the rub. Obviously, any situation that is potentially injurious to the body or is life-threatening can be construed as danger and creates fear. Not so obviously, any situation which is perceived by a person as potentially resulting in injury or loss of any other kind could also be construed as dangerous.

Danger has many faces, and so does courage. Obviously, people in certain situations face potenial bodily harm on a regular basis: soldiers, police officers, fire fighters, bull fighters, people facing health crises, and the like. Many, many more of us face risky or dangerous situations that are more of a mental or emotional nature, yet they often generate as much fear as the truly life-threatening ones.

Consider the fear of a frightening-looking animal such as a tarantula, which could inflict a painful bite but is rarely, if ever, fatal. Or, consider the fear of Public Speaking, which once ranked higher on a list of fears than flying, death or dismemberment! Or consider the fear of launching a business and risking the loss of income or savings, or the fear of revealing your true feelings in an emotionally charged situation, or the fear of making a decision because it might be the wrong one, or the fear of making a committment because you might be trapped in an unpleasant situation.

Though none of the above are life-threatening, the fear is just a real as it would be if it were. And the courage it takes to act in spite of these fears is every bit as strong as it would be if you were in combat and dodging bullets. This is why people facing everyday situations that are perceived as risky but are not life- threatening are nevertheless facing hard choices about whether or not to respond with courage.

Consider the Dictionary definition of courage as including the ability to face danger with self- possession, confidence, and resolution. These are qualities we can develop, skills we can learn. And when we can respond to the "risky" events of our everyday lives with self-possession, confidence, and resolution and we can act with authenticity despite our fear, then we are truly living a courageous life.

What are the "risky" situations you face in your life? What would it take for you to act courageously in those situations?

Excerpted from a blog article in Connie's Life Coaching - Designing Your Life blog.. To read the complete piece, click Read On below.

How do YOU define Courage? Do you define it as taking great physical or financial risks or performing heroic deeds in the face of possible injury, death, or financial disaster? Do you see courage as facing the enemy in battle, chasing down and arresting a criminal, rock climbing, shooting rapids, exploring jungles, skydiving, bungee jumping, climbing Mt. Everest, or making a risky investment on Wall Street? This is our cultural view of courage today. This is the masculine expression of courage.

In The Courage Code, by authors Megan Raphael and Jennifer Byron, we are introduced to some new examples of courage - a new code of courage - born of the feminine and exemplified by the stories of 44 women of courage.

Though this book is written for and about women, there is much richness here for men as well. We all have aspects of both the feminine and the masculine within us. Each of these aspects, blended together - in one person or in a whole society - create a synergy that is greater than the sum of its parts. We will all grow as individuals and as a culture when we learn to own, embrace, and express the full range of the masculine and feminine within us. The brands of courage exemplified in the stories in this book are part of the whole picture, part of our humanity and wholeness. We are not looking at an "either/or" situation here, but a "both/and".

[Click "Read On", below, to read the full article.The Courage Code can be purchased at Amazon.com.]

Our theme quote this month comes from Dawna Markova - a woman of courage and of many accomplishments. Among other things, she is an inspirational speaker, writer and author of 14 books, a long term cancer survivor, and founder of several inspirational initiatives including Random Acts of Kindness, The World-Wide Women's Web, and The Institute for Human Ecology.

Visit her Web site, www.dawnamarkova.com, to view the unabridged version of our Theme Quote, to read about her many initiatives, and find a list of her books and other publications.

And, for a treat, click on the link below to experience a visual moment of grace.

LifeWork Letter is a complimentary monthly e-Newsletter from Connie Komack and LifeWork Enterprises, with tips, quotes, and short articles designed to enrich, empower, and forward the growth of your life, career, or business.

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As always, I invite you to visit my blog site and to read the articles on transition, change, and re- designing your life that are posted there.

Thank you for reading my newsletter and/or blog articles. Your readership is most appreciated and valued. I hear from many of you each month, and I always enjoy and benefit from your feedback. So please keep it coming.