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    Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously [Book]

    Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously by Osho
    By: Osho

    Book Overview: Courage is not the absence of fear, says Osho. It is, rather, the total presence of fear, with the courage to face it. This book provides a bird’s-eye view of the whole terrain—where fears originate, how to understand them, and how to call on your inner strength to confront them. In the process, Osho proposes that whenever we are faced with uncertainty and change in our lives, it is actually a cause for celebration. Instead of trying to hang on to the familiar and the known, we can learn to enjoy these situations as opportunities for adventure and for deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Having courage is more than just heroic acts in exceptional circumstances. It’s a necessity to lead authentic and fulfilling lives on a day-to-day basis. This is the courage to change when change is needed, the courage to stand up for our own truth, even against the opinions of others, and the courage to embrace the unknown in spite of our fears—in our relationships, in our careers, or in the ongoing journey of understanding who we are and why we are here.

    Post(s) Inspired by this Book:

    47 Quotes ➜
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    Swami Sivananda Quote on Meeting Life’s Challenges Vigorously (Not Backing Down)

      “Self-acceptance comes from meeting life’s challenges vigorously. Don’t numb yourself to your trials and difficulties, nor build mental walls to exclude pain from your life. You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory.”

      Swami Sivananda

      Beyond the Quote (11/365)

      In fact, the more you hide from your life challenges and fears, the more they will grow and the more you will shrink.  It’s not a single negative, it’s a double negative.  If you’ve ever felt your mind take something fearful or challenging from a level 1 intensity to a level 1000 intensity, just from letting it linger in your mind, then you know what I’m talking about.  And if you’ve ever let the muscles of your body go without the challenge and difficulty of exercise, then you know what it feels like to shrink.  The muscles of the mind—the mental capacity to show courage and face fear—are muscles that none-the-less need to be exercised to grow.

      Read More »Swami Sivananda Quote on Meeting Life’s Challenges Vigorously (Not Backing Down)

        “The closer one gets to being motivated by altruism, the more fearless one becomes in the face of even extremely anxiety-provoking circumstances.” ~ Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness

        The fear of death is the fear of time.

          The fear of death is the fear of time.

          Picture Quote Text:

          “The fear of death is fear of time.  And the fear of time is, deeply down, fear of unlived moments, of an unlived life.  So what to do?  Live more, and live more intensely.  Live dangerously.  It is your life.  Don’t sacrifice it for any sort of foolishness that has been taught to you.  It is your life: Live it!  Don’t sacrifice it for words, theories, countries or politics.  Don’t sacrifice it for anybody.  Live it!  Don’t think that it is courageous to die.  The only courage is to live life totally; there is no other courage.” ~ Osho, The Art of Living and Dying

            “Fear is a conditioned response: a life-sucking habit that can easily consume your energy, creativity and spirit if you are not careful.  When fear rears its ugly head, beat it down quickly.  The best way to do that is to do the thing you fear.  Understand the anatomy of fear.  It is your own creation.  Like any other creation, it is just as easy to tear it down as it is to erect it.  Methodically search for and then destroy every fear that has secretly slid into the fortress of your mind.  This alone will give you enormous confidence, happiness and peace of mind.” ~ Robin S. Sharma, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

              “Identify the things that are holding you back.  Are you scared of speaking or do you have trouble in your relationships?  Do you lack a positive attitude or do you need more energy?  Make a written inventory of your weaknesses.  Satisfied people are far more thoughtful than others.  Take the time to reflect on what it is that might be keeping you from the life you really want to know deep down you can have.  Once you have identified what your weaknesses are, the next step is to face them head on and attack your fears.  If you fear public speaking, sign up to give twenty speeches.  If you fear starting a new business or getting out of a dissatisfying relationship, muster every ounce of your inner resolve and do it.  This might be the first taste of real freedom that you have experienced in years.  Fear is nothing more than a mental monster you have created, a negative stream of consciousness.” ~ Robin S. Sharma, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

                “It takes courage, of course, to step out of the fray, as it takes courage to do anything that’s necessary, whether tending to a loved one on her deathbed or turning away from that sugarcoated doughnut. And with billions of our global neighbors in crying need, with so much in every life that has to be done, it can sound selfish to take a break or go off to a quiet place. But as soon as you do sit still, you find that it actually brings you closer to others, in both understanding and sympathy. As the meditative video artist Bill Viola notes, it’s the man who steps away from the world whose sleeve is wet with tears for it.” ~ Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness

                  “Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.” ~ Michel de Montaigne