Are You Being Brave Or Stupid?

Knowing the difference can change your life

Imagine you are walking through a jungle alone and come across a tiger. The tiger has not noticed you yet but is coming close. Before it even sees you, would you rush towards it and attack it or try to escape? Is doing so Brave or stupid?

Consider the tiger does sees and approaches you. In this case, would you rush and attack or try to run away?

Now imagine you are with someone you love the most in the world. The tiger approaches them instead of you, would you try to escape, or get the tiger to chase you instead?

How do u feel about your answer? In which case would the choice of attacking the tiger would be bravery, and when would it be stupidity?

I believe there is a very thin line between being brave and being stupid. Knowing where to draw the line is what matters.

Being Brave

Bravery is defined as the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger. Being brave means taking action when you are in an impossible-to-escape situation. I can also be an action you take for a greater purpose, no matter the odds. Bravery is having the courage to do the right thing when the need arises. To put yourself in harm’s way to protect someone, or something requires a lot of courage.

Courage is being scared to death,

and saddling up anyway.

— John Wayne

Many times in life you have to make decisions that could be life-changing. In such situations, we think about all the positive and negative impacts of a decision. The decisions taken out of fear often lead us to not achieving our true potential. Since the fear of what we don’t want makes us stay away from things we do not want. Fear is essential for our survival, fear ensures our safety often subconsciously. But fear can also be a roadblock to growth.

This is where we need to walk the thin line. Being brave is the gateway to growth but at the same time, you should weigh two things at this point. How desperately do you want this, and what is at risk? In the third case above putting yourself in harm’s way to protect your loved one is a very easy choice. But in the second case is it smart to confront the tiger as against trying to escape?

Being Stupid

Being stupid is the case where you jump head-on into danger instead of taking an alternate approach which is safer. Some people risk their lives just to appear brave, or take the decision out of ignorance. Being brave needs some amount of smartness in assessing a situation, and being prepared for what is to come. You should not be brave for others’ appreciation, be brave for yourself. It is only you who can decide what a given action can lead to. How prepared you are for the repercussions.

I would call a daredevil stunt driver planning for a 400-foot jump brave for attempting such a thing. I know he did not wake up this morning and decide to do this. This is surely something he has been preparing for years on end. But if the same is done by someone who barely knows how to ride a bike he is being stupid.

Knowing When To Be Brave

Back in 2018 when I got my Australian PR I was in a similar situation. I had a choice to wait for my company to find a project, or take matters into my own hands. Quitting a stable job instead of waiting might have sounded stupid to a lot of people, and brave to others. But like I said don’t do brave stuff to impress others, do it for what it means to you. I believe about 10+ years of experience working in the US and India have prepared me well. My wife was in the US with a stable job moving back to the US was a viable backup plan. I was well prepared which is the key.

In some situations being brave is not an option but a necessity. But most circumstances in life are not so dire. In a non-fatal situation do not jump in without preparation just to impress others. If u can objectively prove to yourself you are not ready, most probably you are not. Don’t confuse it with not getting out of your comfort zone as you feel it would need too much work. Judging if you are prepared should be objective. Be aware of the costs of your action, and prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario. Do not catastrophize, but be prepared for the worst. Essentially prepare for the worst and hope for the best. This preparedness is what sets Stupidity and Bravery apart.

A good example would be if you are standing in a group and see someone drowning. If you can swim, the choice is obvious, but if you cannot, jumping to save the person will only make the situation worse. This would be a time not to be brave, but to be smart. You should find out alternate ways to save the person.

Conclusion

Brave people have often changed the course of history. But that one moment of bravery often comes with years of preparedness. This preparedness is working towards clear goals on what you want in life.

When Steve Rogers jumped on the grenade thrown at his training party in Captain America, it was bravery. It was not brave simply because he jumped on the grenade. It was brave since the sole purpose of Steve in the movie was to be useful in the war. He was prepared to give the ultimate cost and protect more capable soldiers for this cause.

Hope you keep these things in mind in any such situation you face in the future. Choosing to be brave for a cause, not just to impress others.

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