A definition of courage that I like is that it isn't the absence of fear but the bravery to confront fears and push forward despite them. And we are always faced with situations that put us in a position to have to choose between being courageous or succumbing to our fears. And the most common way that we act courageously is by standing up to our enemies.
I like to think that our enemies can take many forms beyond just people. Enemies could be just about anything that puts us in situations where we feel threatened, challenged, or uncomfortable. So things like societal norms that restrain our freedom, personal insecurities that inhibit us from going for our goals, or even doubts that undermine our confidence.
When talking about courage, we mostly think in the direction of our enemies. It's what I think of mostly anyway. But a quote that I found when I was doing one of my regular touch typing practices had me think in the direction of friends. I found it profound and inspiring—so much so that I remembered it verbatim even after it had been wiped away for the next practice session.
"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
Now, I didn't know who Dumbledore was until I shared the quote with a couple of people, and they made me realise that he was a character in Harry Potter. Someone made my brother and I believe that Harry Potter was a film from the pit of hell when we were kids, and so we destroyed every CD of Harry Potter then. Now I am the only one among my friends who can't relate to Harry Potter. I digress, however.
I asked a couple of friends for their insights on the quote, both online and offline. It was something I was eager to present to them, as I was looking for different angles to it as well as having thoughtful conversations with them. It was very interesting what they had to say—all of them lovely. And the more conversations I had on it, the more I loved the quote.
What good is friendship if we cannot be honest with ourselves? There are times when we feel wronged by the ones we care about. And there are times that we look from an unbiased point of view and realise that something our friend did, a relationship they're in, or a habit we get into isn't just right. What do we do in such situations as friends?
When we feel our boundaries are crossed by our friends and we keep quiet about it, it will only continue to breed an unhealthy relationship. Such would repeat itself over and over again, and then it may get to a point where we may not react properly and the relationship becomes strained.
When we know that we need to let our friends in on something that's obviously unhealthy, it's only right and true for friends to do so.
It can be delicate to discuss such matters, as it requires a delicate balance between honesty and empathy. There's a need to be truthful and point them in certain directions, but it's equally important that it be done with compassion and understanding.
The courage in standing up to our friends is putting aside any discomfort or fear of potential conflict in order to address issues that are important to our individual well-being and that of the friendship. In doing so, we should also keep in mind to be kind.
All in all, courage in general means being willing to confront difficult truths, have uncomfortable conversations, and take necessary action for our growth as individuals and for the betterment of our relationships.
As for Dumbledore, I know that I have to indulge myself in the Harry Potter films to catch up. Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on the quote?