An addendum to yesterdays post

Ya know after rereading my post from yesterday I sure did come off like a very cold person. That is not the case. In my attempt to explain to my niece that her life is her life and she should not allow others to stifle her I think I sounded like I might eat my oatmeal cold. I want to try to dispel that feeling, mostly for myself but also for those who may not know me as well as others.

What I was trying to get across was the importance of our courage of our convictions and how important in life that is. Courage or fortitude is the most important of all virtues, without the courage of our own convictions how can any other virtues be freely practiced? Courage is the foundation that is laid which allows us to consistently, and without moral or ethical conflict, practice or live up to any other virtues. For example, without moral fortitude how can you properly judge your reasons for action with regard to appropriateness in a context, the virtue prudence. Without strong courage you may follow the crowd, you may not be strong enough to overcome a stronger negative personality. How would you be able to practice temperance or self-control, abstention, and moderation in all things without that courage of your convictions. It is hard to steer away from the pack, especially when you are younger and I think that is because you have not developed your convictions in a strong enough way.


Another virtue that would be on shaky ground without the foundation of courage is ones sense of basic human justice, or the proper judgment regarding individual human interests and rights. That leads nicely into Hope, the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that what we want can be attained and that things will turn out for the best. Hopefulness is different then optimism in that hope is more an emotional state of mind and optimism is a conclusion reached through a deliberate thought pattern that leads to a positive attitude. With the courage of ones convictions how could one ever effectively and in a meaningful way have faith, in anything religious or otherwise.

So, I feel strongly that to able to consistently look and like who looks back from the mirror we have to keep our spirit from being bruised we must have courage, that quality of endurance and ability to confront fear and uncertainty, or intimidation while remaining lenient in our judgment of those who would judge us. For me, everything in my life is based in that courage of my convictions.