It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt
We are afraid of vulnerability, even though it is the purest form of courage. It takes courage to put your neck on the line for a relationship, job, or a dream. It takes courage to be the man in the arena. To be willing to fight in the arena even though there is a overwhelming likelihood you will be knocked down more than once is strength. Like it says, "..if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly..." Don't be afraid to dare greatly. Don't be afraid to fight for your worthy cause. Your life will be greater for being in the arena rather than being the critic sitting in the stands.
The critics in the stands are afraid to be vulnerable. They are afraid to go after something and not achieve their goals, and that is no way to live. They instead would rather rip others for their attempts at the "triumph of high achievement." You should never ever listen to a critic. What do they know? Have they been "marred by dust and sweat and blood?" They have not because they refuse to be vulnerable; they refuse to be strong. Sitting and commenting on other's failures is an act of cowardice. These people need to be forgotten and even prayed for because they, too, need to step into the arena and fight for their worthy cause.
Here is the great part as detailed by Brene Brown. The people we love and can be vulnerable with (vulnerability takes trust) are not up in the stands. They are not the critics. In fact, she says they are in the arena with us. They are within an arm's length ready to help us back up and to dust us off for the next round. They are not judging when we are knocked down. They are supporting us with each step of uncertainty because when we go after our worthy cause, each step is a step of blind faith. That's why we are often afraid to go after it. If it was easy, we'd all go after what we wanted. The support we receive steadies the scary steps towards our dreams. The people we love and trust allow us to be vulnerable, which makes us strong and courageous. They allow us to be ourselves and not fear judgement. Love these people with everything you have. Afford them the same gift that they have given you.
Live your life so that you are able to dare greatly. It is the most important fight you will have in your life. Do not be a critic in the stands. Get into the arena and notice those who follow to help you.
Go do daring things,
BT
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