Courage comes from the French word “coeur” meaning heart. Being courageous means facing our fears and coming from our heart rather than our head. Its a place where we face our vulnerabilities and overcome them through compassion and love. As a child in Scotland I was told I had to be strong.
This isn’t just a family legacy, but a whole cultural one! We Scots are independent and strong. But we also have big hearts, often hidden behind the strong exterior. The Scottish Luckenbooth symbolizes our heart and our national pride…. But I’m getting sidetracked here!
Here is an inspirational poem about the difference between Strength and Courage to help you choose for yourself. If anyone knows the author, please let me know. Val x
The Difference Between Strength and Courage
It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard,
It takes courage to let down your guard.
It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt
It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide your own pains,
It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another
It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.
~ David L. Griffith
Whenever you feel you have neither, may the heart of the universe hug you today with its warmth, and love.
And may the wind carry a voice that tells you there is a friend sitting in another corner of the world wishing you well!
Find Your Middle Ground 
Beautiful post, thanks for sharing. Love Jenna
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jenna 🙂
LikeLike
I like the concept of the Universal Hug. Hugs for all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sara! Mega hugs right back at you.
LikeLike
Pingback: * Strength and Courage in Life | Find Your Middle Ground
May the wind whisper the same to you, my friend.
Russ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Russ, you touched my heart. Thank you my friend. Val x
LikeLike
Very gooԁ article! We are linking to this great аrticle on our website.
Keep up thhe gooɗ writing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
To me strength means getting through things and courage means actions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Persevering and taking action are powerful together. Thank you for sharing your thought here. Val x
LikeLike
What a lovely post. Unfortunately I can’t help you with the author.
Thank you for following my blog and leading me to your beautiful blog. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lovely to see you here Carol. Thanks so much for the follow and taking the time to comment today. I look forward to connecting more.
🙂 Val x
LikeLike
Likewise. 🙂
LikeLike
An excellent post Val. thanks for stopping by
LikeLike
Thank you Eddie! Glad it resonated with you 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful poem Val, thanks for sharing. So often we honour and reward the strength in others and perhaps lose sight how brave we need to be to have the courage to face our greatest fears and vulnerabilities in life.
Karen
LikeLiked by 3 people
Beautiful post Val. Thanks for liking my post about Mondays and for following me too:)
LikeLike
Let us play and pay it forward together!
🙂
LikeLike
My husband and I are both of Scottish heritage so I really enjoyed this post for that and many other reasons as well. I am so glad that I found your blog! It is beautiful and inspiring. If people take the time to truly read your poems they can also learn from them.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m glad it reonated with you.
Val x
LikeLike
I have about a pint of scotch heritage along with other European roots. The culture resonates with me, even the wailing dissonance of bagpipes! I’m glad to be connected with you through our blogs and a thread of common heredity!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Me too Sherry! I look forward to sharing our journeys together. Thank for taking time to comment and the follow 🙂
Val x
LikeLike
I love that poem!!!!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Difference Between Strength And Courage | [ Being a Human Being.]
Hi Val, is it ok to post like this? Sorry, I’m fast! 😎 I assume it’s good, but let me know if not and I’ll take down. I included a link back here. 🙂
http://verakasi.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/the-difference-between-strength-and-courage/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vera, so happy to share the goodness! Thank you for the re-blog and stopping by. I do appreciate it.
Val x
LikeLike
Very thoughtful and beautiful , too !
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Anne,
LikeLike
You are welcome!
LikeLike
So true in their meanings…and beautifully put together 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Mark. Your kind words are much appreciated 🙂
Val x
LikeLike
Val, I thought I had to explore your previous posts… what a good idea: I’ve found this poem: it is so profound, “The Difference Between Strength and Courage”…
“It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.”…
It takes courage… to have courage.
Thanks for sharing such beautiful words! xxo
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much Frederic for taking the time to explore more here! I really appreciate it.<3
Im so glad you enjoyed this poem and its message. It is one of my favorites.
Val x
LikeLike
Oh, I understand you, it is really a beautul and meaningful poem! ♥
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is such a great posting I have emailed it to my Scottish Sister-In-Law.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! I hope she voted today. Its a big day in Scotland 🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Retirement Lifestyle Blog and commented:
Strength & Courage and learning its true meaning.
LikeLike
Thank you for this wonderful poem. I wish I could pass it on to Millie and Pearl – we’re having a lot of thunder at the moment and they’re not coping well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for exploring here Annabelle! This is one of my favorites too 🙂 Thunder can be so hard for our pups. All we can do is reassure and be there for them hoping it is enough. ❤
LikeLike
I want me some of that courage! Love your words and thoughts, Val!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Julie! Its a helpful reminder for me too at times 😉
LikeLike
Reblogged this on SOUL FIELDS.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for the re-blog. 🙂
LikeLike
I enjoyed your poem and reflections on the word courage. I have written about strength myself through the perspective of guidance given in tarot and always enjoy diving deeper into the topic through others explorations. All good things to you!! Lisa
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words Lisa and for stopping by! I look forward to exploring the deep with you 🙂
Val x
LikeLike
So beautiful, Val!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very wise words!! Indeed!! Thank you for following my blog. Best, Ellen
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Ellen for your kind words! … and for visiting 🙂
LikeLike
My pleasure– I am following you now, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ellen! I look forward to connecting more 🙂
LikeLike
What a heartfelt sentiment and just what I needed to hear today, so Thanks Val! I shall pick myself up once more and move forward today, even though it is -1 degrees outside!………………..~ Mick E. ~
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mick for stopping by. So glad it resonated with you today 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Val this is a wonderful Poem.. These two lines say it all..
“It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.”
Thank you Val, for sharing many of your posts and your light and uplifting words.. You have given I am sure many the courage to voice their own thoughts and the strength to help them see they are never alone.. When you find your ‘Middle Ground’ and stand tall within your space.. 🙂
Love and Blessings
Sue
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful Val. And I sit in this corner, wishing you well too! ❤
Diana xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good stuff, Val! Hope you’re having a wonderful time at your yoga training. x
LikeLiked by 3 people
A beautiful post. In the face of danger strength alone may not be enough courage too will be needed. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the most beautiful post and poem, Val! Thank you. I hope you’ve had a wonderful week.
LikeLiked by 3 people
This was beautiful, thanks Val!
LikeLiked by 3 people
What a thoughtful post – I’ve never really thought about it before, but I do love your description of the differences!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Fiona 🙂
LikeLike
What a wonderful post Val and such a nice thing to say ‘Whenever you feel you have neither, may the heart of the universe hug you today with its warmth, and love.
And may the wind carry a voice that tells you there is a friend sitting in another corner of the world wishing you well!’.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is always love around. Sometimes we forget because we are caught up in our own woes and worries. Sending you a ((hug)) xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Love and hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed reading the poem. It makes a whole lot of sense. As someone has said, courage isn’t the absence of fear …
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Timi for sharing here 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
When people told me that I had a lot of courage, I told them they were wrong.
because I am afraid of many things..
That was when I was told that courage is actually what it takes to move through the fear to get to the other side.. Wouldn’t need courage if there wasn’t a measure of fear and uncertainty.
If that is true, then yes–I am courageous (and I didn’t even know it). :).
LikeLiked by 4 people
I like that Mary! You are indeed courageous to be with your fear 😌
LikeLike
This is very good.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Dan. Glad it resonates with you 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful poem. The inner journey is not without fear, but these dear words have helped us remember that courage is oh so beautiful. As for myself…I used to operate primarily from strength (I have a bit of the Scot in me too), but years and tears have helped me to be more open and soft with myself and others.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Love this post and am reblogging it. And thanks for following my blog.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much Margo for your kind words and the reblog! 💛
LikeLike
Reblogged this on that little voice and commented:
What a thoughtful post from findyourmiddleground.com. Always a treat to read this blog, and recommend you give it a read.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, that is amazing. Love it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
So glad you felt connected to this. Keep listening to your heart 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do 😘
LikeLike
Pingback: My Picks Of The Week #52 | A Momma's View
This is a great post. Thank you for sharing. I saw your post on Momma’s weekly list 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks EH for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed it. 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vsl, yhis was a great find in these beautiful and touching words. I am 1/4 Scottish, leading back to King Bruce. My Dad’s side. . . 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you cousin Robin!
LikeLike
Beautiful poem! I also love the Scottish Luckenbooth, which I’ve never seen before. I am 1/4+ Scottish and have had the privilege of visiting the exact place where my 3-greats grandmother grew up. I appreciate all things Scottish!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you cousin! Glad you enjoyed it. 💛
LikeLike
‘Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.’
-Lao Tzu
This spurred me into seeking something, and then i found you.
Wow.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you for you kind words Roger. May life bring more synchronicity your way 💛
LikeLike
Hi Val, thanks for the like on a comment I made for Sue Dreamwalker, Good to meet you. We love Scotland, love this poem. Love, David
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much David for visiting. Have a good weekend!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Grevillea Corner and commented:
this is beautiful….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words and the re-blog Stephanie 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
you are welcome…your post helped me a lot today and will always be remembered xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Val!
The description you are giving is extraordinary and gives strength and courage too.
The last two lines I loved to read about having not both of them,
Shiva
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Shiva! May it inspire you today and every day.
LikeLike
I really liked this. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad it resonated with you today 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: 5 Ways You’re Making Life Harder Than It Needs To Be - SmileShare.me
Hi Val,
Love this poem … says it all! And thanks for the follow on Hanukah and the Angel. Love, David
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words David! May our connections continue 💛
LikeLike
Beautiful post and poem Val. Hugs back to you and into the universe.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful and helpful guidance! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Ellen. So glad it resonated with you. Let us all always come from the heart 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, what a lovely poem!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Anarette 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really Love this poem…very inspirational!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Kelly! I was inspired by it as well 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: No regrets – my one life. today
All the comments covered my words. Nothing to say more Val.
Following 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Kedy 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing the poem about strength and courage . It was truly beautiful and touching. Much appreciated! 🙂 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so glad it resonated with you Sam 💛
LikeLike
It comes from David L Griffith (writer and poet) and was quite easy to find with a Google search, Val.
http://www.spotlightdavid.com/SpotlightHome.html
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Vicki! I’ve updated it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
,a good reminder – thanks
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you appreciated this 💛
LikeLike
And may the wind carry a voice that tells you there is a friend sitting in another corner of the world wishing you well! I love this Val and your blog…always wonderful and uplifting…and thought provoking ☺️🤓 smiles hedy
LikeLiked by 2 people
Than’ you so much Hedy. I love your presence here and out there 🙏
LikeLike
Pingback: Strength and Courage–Are They Same? – that little voice
Pingback: More thoughts on Change – Find Your Middle Ground