Anatomy of Adventure

Wisdom of the Week: Adventure is impossible without the virtue of courage. What is courage? Courage is the ability to do something that scares you or the strength to face pain or grief.

Fear is a basic human emotion, and from a psychological point of view, courage can be seen as a way to deal with it. Fear can cause a "fight or flight" response, but courage is the choice to "fight" or face the thing that makes you scared. Psychologists think that courage can be learned and that a person's ability to be brave can be affected by their past, how they were raised, and their environment.

Types of Courage:

Physical courage is what most people think of first when they think of courage: being brave in the face of physical pain, hardship, danger, or the threat of death. It's often said about people who risk their lives for others, like war heroes or firefighters.

Moral courage is doing the right thing even when other people don't like it, you're ashamed, there's a scandal, or you're feeling down. People who blow the whistle or speak out against unfair systems often show moral courage.

Emotional Courage: It takes emotional courage to talk about how you feel, show love or affection, or show how weak you are. It's about being honest about how you feel and facing the pain or rejection that could come from that.

Intellectual courage is the willingness to question your own beliefs, face intellectual challenges, and think about ideas that are new or not very popular.

Modern Application: In today's fast-paced world, adventure takes on varied forms, from career transitions to starting new relationships or even embarking on self-discovery journeys.

Each adventure requires us to dream big (High Endeavor), commit wholeheartedly (Total Commitment), navigate uncertainty (Uncertain Outcome), embrace adversity (Tolerance for Adversity), and value the companions we meet along the way (Great Companionship).

At its core, courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or other forms of intimidation or adversity, despite feeling afraid. It's not the absence of fear, but the decision that something else is more important than that fear. In order to face it you must have a North Star or a goal worth pushing boundaries for, write out what your North Star is that would motivate you to push your boundaries.

Practical Exercise: This week, let's bring adventure into our everyday lives. Adventure number 1 is to ask for a 10 percent discount the next time you're at your local cafe. Don’t tell them that this is a challenge or apologise afterwards. Just simply say “id like a 10% discount” be confident but not rude.

Adventure number 2 will be to ask for somebody's phone number wether It be someone you like or not, just ask a stranger for there phone number.

Resource Spotlight: For a comprehensive look into the nature of adventure and its relevance to personal"The Call of the Wild by Jack London. It's a fascinating exploration of the transformative potential of adventure.

• Aristotle viewed courage as a virtue situated between recklessness and cowardice. For him, the courageous person acts for the sake of what's good, despite the presence of danger.

• Søren Kierkegaard saw courage as the essence of existential freedom. He believed that true courage was in facing the anxiety of freedom and the responsibility of one's own actions.

Journal Prompt of the Week: How do you embody the five elements of adventure in your daily life? How has embracing adventure shaped your experiences and personal growth?