Physical courage is the one type, from the Six Types of Courage, that most people think of first.  It is the type of courage that allows us to risk discomfort, injury, pain or even death—running into burning buildings as a firefighter, facing an enemy on the battlefield, undergoing chemotherapy, climbing a mountain, protecting a child from a dangerous animal.  We are right to be wary of pain: pain tells us where our boundaries and limits are.  However, sometimes there are things more important than pain, and our physical fear becomes a border to be crossed.  Physical fear is often blown entirely out of proportion: pain is often greater in anticipation than in fact, and that dread can become an insurmountable barrier.  Physical courage also involves recognizing that your body is how you participate in the world; keeping it healthy, strong, and resilient prepares you for all kinds of challenges, not just physical ones. 

Do you think it takes more physical courage to climb a mountain or battle an illness? Do you think it takes more courage to learn to sleep in the dark, take your first steps, or try diving off a diving board for the first time?  Do you notice a difference between your son and your daughter, in terms of how they define physical courage and what it looks like in their lives?

Can you remember a time that you or your child had to have physical courage?  Please post your thoughts or stories here. 

We would very much appreciate hearing from you! 

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Here at Lion’s Whiskers we are hoping to collect kids’ definitions for some of the values most commonly associated with moral courage. 

We would appreciate your help! 

“Typically, the hero of the fairy tale achieves a domestic, microcosmic triumph, and the hero of myth a world-historical, macrocosmic triumph. Whereas the former—the youngest or despised child who becomes the master of extraordinary powers—prevails over his personal oppressors, the latter brings back from his adventure the means for the regeneration of his society as a whole.”

~ Joseph Campbell: The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Reflecting on the above distinction, have you found yourself or your kids more drawn to fairy tales or to myths?

Lion’s Whiskers asks: What kind of street smarts have you taught your child?  What do you think is really important for your child to know in case of emergency? (i.e. how to dial your home, cell, or work phone number and/or 911 or text for help? how to pick a good stranger to ask for assistance or directions to your address? how to hail a cab, ride a bus/subway, or run for home? where their i.d. and emergency money is stored in their backpack? how to get into the house if they’ve forgotten their key? which neighbor is a good bet to ask for help? how to stay calm and assess a situation whilst generating the best solution?)

Share your advice, we want to hear from you?

We’d love to hear from you!

Lion’s Whiskers asks: What new learning will you push your child to try?  What particular courage challenge for your child, will you pull back from in order to allow them smaller baby steps forward? 

To read more about what we mean by “Discourage/Encourage: What’s a Parent to Do?” of coaching courage, click here.