What is the Philosophy Behind Heroism?
Let’s start with a definition by Christopher Reeve.
It’s easy to read this quote and nod your head in agreement, but let’s break it down.
A Hero, is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
An ordinary individual, is anyone who lives a regular life, someone reading this post may identify as ordinary.
In this context, I believe Reeve means someone who has not yet used their voice, or found their purpose, but whom is going about daily life in the ordinary way we are conditioned to do so.
The complexity of the language in this quote is not seen until it is analyzed.
Finding the strength is alluding to this coming before the obstacle, so where does the strength come from? It seems as though the strength is inside the individual.
Persevere and endure are the actions the hero must do to accomplish the task of finding their strength. But how does one persevere?
How does perseverance become something that a person does?
Isn’t it easier just to let it go and move on?
To some people yes, but in the instance of this quote, perseverance is a quality of inner strength that is a conditional to the definition of a hero for Reeve.
We can also question why endurance is a quality of a hero for Reeve.
Does taking on and enduring something allow an individual to gain inner strength?
I’d like to say yes.
It seems obvious that enduring something allows the person to gain inner strength.
In running, endurance is something that comes only with consistent practice of running. There is no way to force better endurance in a short amount of time, and because of this, consistent practice is the only way to build running endurance. I’d say the same is true of the individual hero in Reeve’s quote.
Endurance is a quality that can be built in personal development as well.
I’d also consider it similar to resilience, in that building this skill allows the person to face a difficult situation with less emotional reaction.
In spite of overwhelming obstacles is the essence of the truth in this quote.
The underlying commonality of most heroes in fiction, or in reality is their ability to overcome difficult situations or circumstances.
What does this quote really say about Heroes?
Reeve is stating that a hero is a person who accesses their inner strength in times of hardship, in order to overcome them.
Heroism exists in the everyday. It exists in those who choose to be different from the rest of us.
What Makes a Hero Different?
There are common traits that heroes share, but that’s not what makes them different from ordinary people.
It’s the ability to know themselves as a person who suffers and gets through it stronger, and wiser that creates the distinction between hero and non-hero.
Combined with their ability to assist others through kindness, nobility and moral rightness; an individual’s actions distinguish a hero.
Remember…
Everyone has the potential to be a hero, but not everyone will become a hero.
Blessings,
With love and light,
Stay true stay weird.
~~ Kristina