One who eradicates his own evil is a brave warrior[...].
Man is bound by the chains of his own
egotism, selfishness, and conceit.
The spiritually blind place the blame on others.
—Siri Guru Granth - Ang 258
I’ve heard it called brave to talk about emotions. Well, my ex-military friend Joe once told me about a Special Forces unit made up of the most badass of badasses. They jump from planes and parachute deep behind enemy lines alone to carry out the most dangerous missions. No food, no water, no form of communication—just whatever they can carry on their backs as they jump out of a plane.
The only reassurance they get from their commanding officer is something like, “Don’t come back until the mission’s complete. Oh, and good luck finding your own way home.” Apparently, rescue for these brave souls isn’t an option, considering the restrictive circumstances they’re operating under.
Even if they complete their mission and make it home, chances are another mission will be waiting for them upon arrival. It’s likely that one day, they won’t make it home at all, and their bones will remain somewhere behind enemy lines forever. And yet, they still jump. Now that’s brave.
Anytime I feel resistance toward being emotionally vulnerable, toward dealing with a situation I don’t want to, toward digging into a past memory I’d prefer to avoid, I remind myself what true bravery looks like, and it puts my own situation in perspective.