So, first, maybe we should define what being heroic means. A hero acts in response to others’ needs or in defense of a principle. A hero takes action in spite of the risk or personal sacrifice involved. A hero acts without expectation of reward… often knowing that the action will absolutely adversely impact him or her.
Can you spot the overlap between acting heroically and acting compassionately?
There’s an element of courage required in order to be heroic. And courage comes only when the risk is great and fear is present. In fiction, that risk could be huge: the fate of the world or the entire universe. It can also be quite small: the risk of rejection or of being ostracized.
I don’t write stories about super heroes or intergalactic battles. I write stories about ordinary women. But if you read closely enough, I think you’d agree that their stories require them to lift their eyes from themselves and look outward to engage with the world around them. In doing so, they battle with internal demons, risk the foundational (and sometimes physical) structures of their lives and take a stand for what they’ve come to believe. One of their most courageous actions often involves un-muting their voice.
To put words to who you are and the things you believe in? That’s not easy and it risks the ultimate rejection: the rejection of self.
So big or small, what is courage asking you to do? Have you validated your voice? Putting thoughts into words is the first step to putting words into action.
Here’s some homework for tomorrow. (In my defense, I am calling this a short course in how to be heroic…): https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_banality_of_heroism
See you then!