Courage is Contagious
Many people would agree these are intense, scary times. With tariff wars, economic freefall, firing thousands of necessary workers, people disappearing in surprise deportations, closing the Department of Education, etc., one might understandably want to take a break from all the bad news. On the other hand, there have been some inspiring counter activities. A senator making a 25-hour speech pleading for kindness and compassion towards those less privileged, huge crowds for leaders who are not afraid to speak their minds against the disregard for the constitution and a stream of protests around the country. The organizers of the recent April 5 “Hands Off” protest put the official tally at over 5 million people taking to the streets.
My wife and I attended the Berkeley rally with over 3,000 other Berkeleyites. I was inspired and uplifted by not only the crowd but by the clever and creative signs to be expected at a Berkeley rally. Some favorites: “I've seen better cabinets at IKEA", "My Prius is way cooler than your Tesla" with an unflattering picture of Elon Musk and his now famous salute. But the one that particularly struck a chord with me was “Defend Democracy, Resist Autocracy. Courage is Contagious!” Although it is not a new line its truth never felt more important.
We affect each other. When we're around someone who is angry it's hard to be at ease. When we are around someone who is radiating love it brings out the best in us. In his book Born to be Good, Dacher Keltner, Director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, writes:
"We have been designed to care about things other than the gratification of desire and the maximizing of self-interest. Compassion is wired into our nervous system and encoded in our genes." Not only is goodness inherent, it's also contagious. Keltner continues, "Kindness can spread across people and physical space within seconds. The emotions that promote a meaningful life are powerfully contagious."
A decade ago, in Oakland, California, a neighborhood that was riddled with muggings, theft and prostitution underwent a remarkable transformation after a resident placed a two-foot Buddha statue on a median strip of a residential neighborhood. Others from the neighborhood brought flowers and constructed a wooden shelter. People started coming to regularly pray or give offerings. Soon the area became transformed into a sacred shrine.
According to journalist Chip Johnson, "Since 2012, when worshipers began showing up for daily prayers, overall crime dropped by 82 percent. Robbery reports went from 14 to three, aggravated assaults from five to zero, burglaries from eight to four, narcotics from three to none, and prostitution from three to none."
Goodness is contagious. And so is courage. Harvard psychologist, Jonathan Haidt coined the term "the elevation response" to describe the inspiration one feels when witnessing acts of heroism, kindness and courage. With such models of inspiration, we are moved to bring out the best in ourselves. That is one reason why in Buddhist teachings we are encouraged as much as possible to “Keep the company of the wise. Avoid the company of the foolish.”
Courage doesn’t mean having no fear. Rather it means not letting fear stop us. “I learned that courage is not the absence of fear,” wrote Nelson Mandela, “but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers fear.” He spoke of the rippling effect, “the multiplication of courage” that is awakened in others. Winston Churchill is said to have observed, “Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”
At this time, courage is a most important quality. I’ve adapted Marianne Williamson’s teaching: “No time to play small.” We are being asked to not only find our voice but to encourage others to find theirs as well. Although I was very shy and timid in my younger days, I've come to see that we feel most alive when we act on impulses that are aligned with our deepest place of connection and truth. In speaking from this place of knowing, we access a growing confidence realizing that “it’s not about me” but about Life using us well. As one Tibetan master put it, “Timidity is just another ego trip.”
This is a time for all who value compassion, kindness and care about the direction this country is going in to step up and find their voice. It’s been shown that once a tipping point is reached, conventional wisdom can change at breathtaking speed. Witness in recent years, the change in popular opinion regarding same-sex marriage or the public outcry over domestic violence. Instead of waiting for everyone to see the light, only a small segment of the population needs to change their thinking for a paradigm shift to occur. One research study found that when just 10 percent of the population holds an unshakable belief, their belief will eventually be adopted by the majority of the society.
Perhaps you can remember when you stepped forward and spoke your truth. Think back to what enabled you to do that and how it felt inside. At this time, what do you feel strongly about? What needs to be said? Know that when you find the courage to say what is true in a skillful and effective way, you will inspire others to do the same. Margaret Mead famously said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Let’s come together, find the courage to keep speaking out with fierce compassion, and use our voices to inspire each other.