Since the word “courage” crashed landed into my heart last fall and declared itself my word of the year for 2025, I have slowly welcomed my new friend into my life. Like any good writer, how do you get to know a word better? Definition and word origin!
What does courage mean? Here are several definitions:
- Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.
- Noun: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.
- The ability to control fear and to be willing to deal with something that is dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant.
Wow – huge, mighty, and grand words, aren’t they?
I like this simpler one: Courage is the ability to do something difficult even when there’s risk. Courageous people do and say what they think is right despite opposition.
What about the origin of the word courage?
The word courage comes from the Latin word cor, which means “heart.”
Brene Brown writes, “In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart. Over time, this definition has changed, and today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes, but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we’re feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage.
Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. In today’s world that’s pretty extraordinary.”
What really got me thinking, though, is what my spiritual director pointed out. Yes, courage has the “cor”, the heart, but also speaks of “rage”. CouRAGE. She said courage sometimes has anger, but also usually contains much passion, a form of rage. Now that was a quality of this word I never considered before. Heart passion. The urge, the zeal to move us out of our comfort zone into the unknown to make a change, to stand up for injustice, to speak up for the marginalized, to make a difference, to be courageous.
When courage first invaded my heart, the word scared me, but not so much anymore. Courage can sound and is in some circumstances, gigantic, risky, and a bit terrifying. But courage can also mean getting out of bed each day, being grateful, choosing forgiveness and love. To decide daily to help others, to go the extra mile for another, to reach out even when it is inconvenient or impractical or uncomfortable out of our heart passion, and to speak up when there is so much injustice surrounding us in this crazy world right now. Daily courage.
One small step into a deeper understanding into the vastness of this deep rich word courage.
What are you learning so far in 2025?
I find it so interesting that the earliest form of courage was speaking all of one’s heart. It puts a different spin on how we define courage! I also appreciate that your spiritual director added in the RAGE aspect – passion. I can definitely see that aspect of courage too.
I’m glad you’re already finding peace with Courage – I’m impressed. 🙂 But not surprised! I love how you’re fleshing out courage for us, Jean!
That is why I love spending a whole year with these words – we learn so much depth from exploring them. Such as that aspect of RAGE. I was floored to learn that. thanks for always enCOURAGing us with our word of the year, Lisa!
Jean, yes. Courage as the passion of the heart to get out there, to do the right things, to be the person God shaped us to be, to speak truth in love. The list goes on even as our circumstances change. Thankfully the One who never changes is the core flame, the focus of our lives.
Hi Linda!, I like the image that God is our core flame for our heart passion. That is a wonderful image., very powerful. Thanks!
I love the word courage as defined by your heart’s passion. Beautiful, Jean, and so true! May we all have the courage to speak our hearts to one another will love, respect, and to glorify God in doing so. Blessings, my friend!
I thought heart passion really added a new dimension to this word at least for me it did and helped me see this word in a new light. Glad you thought so too.
Love those examples of daily courage, Jean. Too often we think courage is for important people doing important, highly-visible things for God’s kingdom. Not so! / As for what I’m learning (or RE-learning as in this case): Recently I wrote in a prayer, “You, O God, have loved me with an everlasting love and have drawn me to you with unfailing kindness (Jeremiah 31:3). If you chose to draw me, then you must want me! The sacrifice of your Son proves how much.” Praise God for his gracious love and compassion! It is humbling to contemplate.
RE-learning is such an important aspect of growing and being transforming in Christ isn’t it? being open and willing to let go of our old ways and open to learning God’s ways, hard sometimes but so goooood. yes Praise God!