Sometimes, we think of courage as this grand, cinematic moment where a hero stands tall against a dragon, breathing fire and feeling no fear at all. But George Eliot offers us a much more grounded, beautiful truth when she says that necessity does the work of courage. To me, this means that courage isn't always a choice we make because we feel brave; often, it is simply the result of having no other option. It is the quiet strength that emerges when our backs are against the wall and the only way to move forward is to take that terrifying first step.

In our everyday lives, we rarely face dragons, but we certainly face much more subtle, heavy pressures. We face the necessity of showing up to a job we find draining to provide for our families, or the necessity of having a difficult conversation with a friend to save a relationship. In these moments, we might feel incredibly small and frightened, but the sheer need to survive or to protect what we love pushes us through the door. We aren't acting out of a sense of fearlessness, but out of a profound requirement to keep going.

I remember a time when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed by a new project. I felt like a tiny duckling lost in a storm, unsure if I had the strength to navigate the choppy waters. I didn't feel brave; in fact, I felt quite the opposite. But the deadline was approaching, and the responsibility was mine alone to carry. I didn't find courage through a sudden burst of confidence, but through the sheer necessity of completing the task. As I worked, the fear didn't disappear, but it became secondary to the necessity of the moment, and slowly, the work got done.

If you are currently in a season where you feel like you are lacking bravery, please be gentle with yourself. You don't need to feel fearless to be doing something incredibly brave. If you are showing up, if you are enduring, and if you are doing what must be done despite your trembling hands, then you are practicing a very pure form of courage. The strength you need is often already being provided by the very circumstances you are navigating.

Take a moment today to look at the hard things you are handling. Instead of judging yourself for feeling afraid, try to recognize the incredible strength you are showing simply by meeting your necessities. You are doing much better than you think you are.