Learn, Share, Grow - Courage

Below is a lesson from Sahil Bloom's post on X on COURAGE, as well as our key learnings.

The Blue Courage team is dedicated to continual learning and growth.  We have adopted a concept from Simon Sinek’s Start With Why team called “Learn, Share, Grow”.  We are constantly finding great articles, videos, and readings that have so much learning.  As we learn new and great things, this new knowledge should be shared for everyone to then grow from.

@SahilBloom on X

Your entire life will change when you realize that courage is the single most important human trait.

In 1942, author C.S. Lewis offered this brilliant characterization:

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality."

Courage is who you are when it's inconvenient. When no one is watching. When the rewards are uncertain. When the outcomes are unpredictable.

It's easy to declare our values, principles, and virtues in times of peace—it's hard to live by them in times of war.

Courage is defined at the testing point.

You are defined at the testing point.

The truth: Talent and intelligence are abundant. Courage is not.

There’s someone out there living the life you want simply because they had the courage to act. They aren’t smarter than you. They aren’t more talented than you. They just took action when you didn’t.

Continue reading here.

Key Learnings: 

• Courage is foundational: It's not just one virtue among many; it is the form of every virtue when tested, as C.S. Lewis noted.

• True courage is tested in adversity: It reveals itself when it's inconvenient, unrewarded, and uncertain—when no one is watching.

• Character is defined at the testing point: Who you are in moments of challenge shows your true values and identity.

• Talent and intelligence are abundant; courage is not: Many have the skills, but few act because courage—not ability—is the differentiator.

• Action overcomes fear: Fear stems from inexperience, not inability. Courage is the means to gain experience and reduce fear.

• Inaction leads to deeper regret: The pain of not trying is greater than the pain of trying and failing.

• Courage is a choice, not a trait: It's not innate—it's something you choose every day, especially in hard moments.

• Growth comes from facing challenges: As you encounter harder tests, you grow stronger, you change through courageous action.

• You have agency: You control how you respond to your testing points—your future is shaped by the choices you make now.

• Avoid the easy path at the point of testing: A meaningful life demands courage at the crossroads; choosing to show up as your highest version of yourself at the point of testing builds a life of meaning, purpose, and character.

• Daring makes things easier: As Seneca noted, "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult."