The Magnitude of Our Courage

This was a rough weekend for those of us in North Carolina. Devastating tornadoes swept across our state, killing many and leaving others homeless. Many of our friends and neighbors now face a future without those they held dear, and things they have worked a lifetime to acquire have disappeared in an instant.  Such loss can seem overwhelming. But surprisingly, the people of North Carolina don’t seem overwhelmed. Instead, they seem determined. They are clearing away debris and setting up shelters. They are facing forward after allowing themselves a brief moment of looking back. They are living one of the foundational tenets of personal excellence:

“It’s not the magnitude of the task that matters, it’s the magnitude of our courage.” (Matthieu Ricard)

Anyone who has ever made a difference has done so in the face of tremendous challenges. The challenges aren’t the real story. Lots of people face challenges. The real story – the one worth repeating – is the difference made in spite of the challenges. Helen Keller was not the only blind and deaf person in the US in the late 1800s. Rosa Parks was not the only African-American told to give up her seat on a bus.  Mother Teresa wasn’t the only person to see the poverty and disease in Calcutta. So why do we know their names? We know them because of their courage in the face of what appeared to be insurmountable odds.

What will your story be about? The challenges or the courage?

If you would like to help those affected by the NC tornadoes, you can do so through the American RedCross.