Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.– Ambrose...
Read MoreHero Within

How often do we get to hear stories about acts of heroism? I will guess that for each 100 stories of crimes, corruptions, wars etc we may hear 1 story of heroism.
To me Heroism is a fascinating topic. Growing up in Israel as a teenager during the YOM KIPUR war (1973) I was exposed to the horror of a shocked nation fighting for its very existence. Israel lost 2700 soldiers (equivalent to loss of 10000 soldiers in Australia today) in 3 weeks!. Then came the stories about acts of heroism. I remember those feelings of awe, elevation and a choked throat. In the years to come I heard stories about the Righteous amongst the Nations who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Again a sense of humility and profound expansion of the heart.
On Australia Day this weekend we will get the opportunity to learn about our local heroes – Australian of the Year and Honours list of Order of Australia. We choose these heroes because they reflect the core values of our culture.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission in USA gives awards to those who risked their lives to save others. 20% of them died in their attempt to save others. Here is a quote from their website: “These heroes have captured our attention as we express wonder at their courage. All of these heroes exhibit the rare quality of ultimate selflessness that reassures us the human race is noble. There is much to learn from them. Honor them.”
Stories about courage have always elevated my spirit and taught me. I hope some of the items I share here will touch you.

Seeing instead of denying
Know and stay attuned to your core values
What value is really important for you? When did you take a risk or sacrifice something to stay loyal to this value?
Approach instead of avoid
To reflect:
When did you overcome a barrier that stopped you from acting towards your goals? What was the barrier and how did you do so?
How do fears stop you from confronting someone and what price do you pay?
To follow this code of conduct is to lead an authentic life. It means both to accomplish one’s goals and to be at peace with oneself.
I believe we all deserve that. We just need to use our swords and start slaying our dragons.
About the author:
Guy (Hagai) Avisar is a psychologist with more than 30 years of experience helping people with relationship issues
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