The Cave Within - A Story of Personal Courage
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Once, there was a small village nestled way up in the mountains. And from the village square, a monumental mountain stood tall, veiled with misty clouds and wrapped in myth. It was the home of a cave no one dared to enter.
Some villagers thought it was cursed. Others thought it was where ghosts of dead warriors resided, haunting the mountainside. Children told story after story of brave souls who ventured inside the cave only to never be seen again.
The cave had become a symbol of fear — a place to avoid, not explore.
But one day, a young woman named Mary stood in front of the mouth of the cave, staring, heart pounding, palms sweating, knees shaking. She wasn’t there to prove anything to the villagers. She was there because she knew deep inside that there was something more to life, something more to learn, something more for her to discover.
For far too long, she had been living only half of herself, afraid to speak, afraid to be vulnerable, afraid to stand up for herself and have a voice — her own voice. She was afraid to be her authentic self.
She had always been a bit of an introvert, the quiet one in the corner, feeling insecure, less than, not a part of. One to be seen, not heard. She had always felt a little different than all the other villagers. It was like they knew something she didn’t. As if there was a secret to life that everyone but her was privy to.
As she stood in front of the cave, trembling, she realized the cave to fear was not the one carved into the mountainside. It was the one in her chest, deep inside her heart. Up to this point, it felt too overwhelming to enter. She had always felt that if she went there, nothing but bad would come of it. She dared not go within.
But now… there was an ache in her heart she couldn’t explain, a yearning for something she couldn’t describe, a desire she couldn’t seem to satiate. She knew there was something beyond the darkness of her own cave that she must discover. So, as a symbolic jester, she took the first step.
As she entered the cave, the darkness swallowed her immediately. The air was cool and heavy. As she cautiously sauntered forward into the unknown, echoes could be heard. Whispers from one side, then the other. They were voices from her past she had silenced, shunned, and stuffed way back into the dark corners of her soul. It was then she realized the cave was not something to fear — or something to hurt her. It was here to help.
As Mary continued forward, she stumbled, cried, and wanted to back out — leave. But the whispers pulled at her like a magnetic force, deeper into the abyss. The further she went, the more feelings of emptiness and aloneness vanished. The more alive she felt. It was like walking into a new world of possibilities. Once again, she felt connected and a part of.
Mary realized the echoes and whispers were voices reflecting her true self, her authentic voice that had always been there, but hidden in the darkness.
Courage, she discovered, wasn’t bravery or heroism, or slaying big, bad monsters. It wasn’t overpowering others by being loud and boisterous.
No. It was the opposite. It was a walk into the empty space within, the journey toward the unknown, the stillness, the silence.
As she went back to the village, the people expected a tale of horror. But she had none. As they all sat in a circle to hear her story, she shared what she had discovered related to personal courage:
She began by saying willingness was the first step. A willingness to venture into the darkness of the cave — the soul.
She said,
“There is a version of yourself that you don't know, because there is a veil of fear that blocks you from seeing that version of yourself. Courage is being able to peel back that veil, see that version of yourself, and nothing else. And to become that version of yourself, it requires a willingness to take that first step.”
She then shared a few takeaways:
Courage begins where comfort ends.
Our inner growth often starts when we choose to step into places that scare us—those difficult conversations we’ve been avoiding, uncertain decisions we’ve put off regarding our family or work life, or perhaps uncomfortable truths about ourselves we’ve been in denial about or avoiding.Fear is not the enemy.
Fear signals that something important is at stake. Courage isn’t about erasing fear, but about walking through it, understanding it, and learning what it's guarding. Sometimes, fear is guarding or protecting you in some way. But now, whatever it’s been protecting is no longer serving you. We can let go of it.Silence is sacred.
Sometimes, the most courageous thing we can do is be still and listen to what is happening within us. In the quiet, we hear our inner strength speak.You carry the light.
There is no map to personal transformation. The way forward is lit by you as you take one step at a time forward. One act of courage at a time. We control the pace of moving into and through the feelings of fear. We can pause at any time.Courage is a direct byproduct of clarity.
The more clarity we have, the better. Courage seems to be a given, a byproduct — of clarity. The more clarity we have, the fewer obstacles to overcome. The stronger and more empowered we feel.
She concluded her share with this statement.
“Courage doesn't always look like heroism. Often, it looks like honesty. Willingness. Vulnerability. Like returning to the cave again and again, not because you’re fearless—but because you’re free. You’re authentic, living the life you’ve always dreamed of.”
Thank you for reading this. Again, please “share” with friends, “like” by clicking the heart icon. I’d love it if you’d “comment.” Believe it or not, your comment with your experience related to this story might help someone else. So, please share your experience, strenght and hope with others. Your experience is valuable!
Your Passion is Your Power
Passion and purpose. Two words that you’ve probably seen a lot in recent years. We’re told that having a purpose gives us direction, ignites us, and inspires us.
Eddie, this hit home for me. As it goes back to acceptance and seeing and feeling what is going on with us. not trying to push it away or understanding why it’s there. Accepting that it is there, realize the feeling and going on. I don’t have to like the feeling, but accepting it. Thank you!!
Thank you deeply 🤍🙏🏽