Twenty Seconds of Insane Courage

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Unfortunately, according to research it seems like Christopher Robbin didn’t actually say those words to Pooh after all, as much as it tugs at the heartstrings. That was Disney’s work, not the author A.A. Milne’s.

But it does strike a chord.

We are more courageous, resilient, and intelligent than we may realize.

Case in point: Paul Alexander, the man with the iron lung.

Paul died on the 11th of March, at age 78, just a few days ago after spending almost 72 years in an iron lung.

Paul Alexander contracted polio as a child in 1952 and was paralyzed from the neck down. Doctors didn't expect him to live past his teens, but Paul defied the odds.

Confined to an iron lung machine that helped him breathe, he went on to graduate from college, become an attorney, and have a successful career - all while inside the iron lung for over 60 years.

He even wrote a book that took him 5 years to complete, and, in January this year, built a following on TikTok.

Paul's incredible story shows that with belief in yourself and persistent effort, even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome

What Does All This Have To Do With Me

For the past 12 months, I have been documenting my journey here, sharing the struggle of getting started and staying motivated.

The more I write, the clearer the picture becomes for me; at the same time, when I speak to friends who are in the same boat, I notice they can be divided into two distinct groups.

One just gets started and keeps going but the other seems to have their visions and aspirations blocked at every turn.

This post is more for the second group of people.

There are many reasons and an even greater number of excuses, why we remain stuck with our desires but the gist of it is this:

1. Fear of failure - We are afraid to take risks and try new things because of the possibility of failing.

2. Lack of self-confidence - We doubt our own abilities and convince ourselves the obstacle is too big.

3. Complacency - We get stuck in our comfort zones and lose the motivation to push ourselves.

To overcome these obstacles, we simply need to:

1. Embrace a growth mindset - View setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve, not permanent roadblocks. Have faith that you can develop abilities through hard work.

2. Set small, achievable goals - Don't get paralyzed by how huge the end goal seems. Break it down into baby steps you can consistently make progress on.

3. Seek inspiration - Read stories like Paul Alexander's. Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you. Let their examples fuel your confidence and motivation.

Now, most of us have probably heard, done, or are actually carrying out the above steps in the pursuit of our dreams.

But I suggest forgetting everything mentioned above, except for one more crucial point - what Daniel Riley calls - the twenty seconds of insane courage.

Briefly, this is what he says:

• Courage doesn't last forever and can be hard to keep up.

• Big changes in life often come from small acts of bravery in important moments.

• Sometimes, just a brief burst of courage—like twenty seconds—is all it takes to change your life, whether it's asking for a promotion or facing your fears.

Final Thoughts

If we care to look back on our own lives, we would probably see those twenty seconds of courage moments too - whenever we succeeded.

I think this is what Paul Alexander had in abundance even when trapped within the limitations of his infirmities - emotional courage.

Paul succeeded when he shouldn’t have, against all odds.

Paul proved his resilience was far superior to his illness.

Paul is also showing us the way to success - if he with all his health issues and whatnot can do it, anyone can.

Psychologist Susan David takes this one step further in her talk on emotional courage based on her work and experience in Ted Talks.

Emotional courage helps us face tough times with strength and kindness, letting us be real with ourselves and others.

Thank you, Paul Alexander.

May you rest in eternal peace.

Till next week,

Go Unlock The Power of Twenty Seconds!

Cheers!

Jude

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