The Hidden Faces Of Courage

Mother Teresa said, “to have courage for whatever comes in life—everything lies in that.” When people think about courage, they often think about those who put their lives on the line for us every day, like first responders, firefighters, or police officers. But there are so many others who quietly endure, with steadfast courage, whatever comes their way in life. These people are like the anawhim in the Old Testament—the good, kind people whom very few know about, but who trust in the Lord. He is their strength. It is because of their faith in him that they live their lives with courage to face whatever comes their way. In over thirty years as a psychotherapist and spiritual director, Wilcox has often been amazed at the strength and courage of so many of his clients. Some have faced physical disabilities; others struggle with mental, emotional, or psychological problems; still others with personal, family or career issues. These people are what he calls “the hidden faces of courage.” Often, they are not well-known. They certainly receive no notoriety or press. Yet, they are always there, doing the best they can each day. This book is an invitation to understand and appreciate the unnoticed courage and strength of ordinary people. If we can “walk in their shoes,” it will help us to be courageous for whatever comes to us in life.

Mother Teresa said, "to have courage for whatever comes in life--everything lies in that." When people think about courage, they often think about those who put their lives on the line for us every day, like first responders, firefighters, or police officers. But there are so many others who quietly endure, with steadfast courage, whatever comes their way in life. These people are like the anawhim in the Old Testament--the good, kind people whom very few know about, but who trust in the Lord. He is their strength. It is because of their faith in him that they live their lives with courage to face whatever comes their way. In over thirty years as a psychotherapist and spiritual director, Wilcox has often been amazed at the strength and courage of so many of his clients. Some have faced physical disabilities; others struggle with mental, emotional, or psychological problems; still others with personal, family or career issues. These people are what he calls "the hidden faces of courage." Often, they are not well-known. They certainly receive no notoriety or press. Yet, they are always there, doing the best they can each day. This book is an invitation to understand and appreciate the unnoticed courage and strength of ordinary people. If we can "walk in their shoes," it will help us to be courageous for whatever comes to us in life.

Unhappiness, says bestselling author Harriet Lerner, is fueled by three key emotions: anxiety, fear, and shame. They are the uninvited guests in our lives. When tragedy or hardship hits, they may become our constant companions. Anxiety can wash over us like a tidal wave or operate as a silent thrum under the surface of our daily lives. With stories that are sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking, Lerner takes us from "fear lite" to the most difficult lessons the universe sends us. We learn: how a man was "cured in a day" of the fear of rejection -- and what we can learn from his story how the author overcame her dread of public speaking when her worst fears were realized how to deal with the fear of not being good enough, and with the shame of feeling essentially flawed and inadequate how to stay calm and clear in an anxious, crazy workplace how to manage fear and despair when life sends a crash course in illness, vulnerability, and loss how "positive thinking" helps -- and harms how to be our best and bravest selves, even when we are terrified and have internalized the shaming messages of others No one signs up for anxiety, fear, and shame, but we can’t avoid them either. As we learn to respond to these three key emotions in new ways, we can live more fully in the present and move into the future with courage, clarity, humor, and hope. Fear and Other Uninvited Guests shows us how.

An extensive psychological and biographical study of the famous Carmelite saint and her spiritual vision.

Essays appraising over-all Northern and confederate military strategy, and the relative merits of the outstanding generals.