Courage is an essential requirement for ageing well. How can you develop this vital quality?
I’m 75 this year and I need courage to continue.
In retrospect, the first 60 years was mostly messing around. Now it feels as though I’ve reached the sharp end of life. I need courage otherwise I’ll start closing down. I want to open up, not live on fossilised memories. I want to stay curious. I still want adventures. I want joy.
So where can I get courage? They don’t sell it on Amazon and the kind they sell in the bar doesn’t work for me. I’m not talking about Tom-Cruise-doing-crazy-stunts type courage. I’m talking about the courage to get out of bed. To keep going. To endure. To stay connected.
The source of my courage lies in the alarming fears that I have. The fear of loosing physical or mental capacity. The fear of not having enough resources to survive. The fear of losing those close to me. The fear of isolation and death. Oh yes, there’s plenty of fear at my time of life. According to the sexy graph from the Office of National Statistics below, I’m well on the downward curve.
Fear is an energy. Instead of pushing it under the carpet, I can use it. In fact we can all use the fear to create meaningful connection and purpose. Especially in the second half of life!
Nicola, myself and some of the Life-Stage team will be talking about how to transform fear into courage. Perhaps you’ll join us? Even share your thoughts and experiences? Go on! Be Brave!
This is the first in a series of monthly on-line events based on my book, The Power in Ageing.
On the downward slope but that curve is looking better than ever before...
I think you're right to highlight courage as increasingly important, qnd I'm glad you hold on to that Adam.
You are certainly not alone in your fears and that is why you find the wisdom and the courage to offer your words, time and resources to en-courage others to come together, share a little time and thought to create meaning in our lives. X🤗