My Personal Reflections on Courage, by Padmaja Rao

I think the absence of courage can stay with us for a long time. It can settle into our hearts as regret—quiet, persistent, and difficult to shake. For that reason, I have come to see courage as more than a single act of bravery. To me, it is a value, something that can be nurtured, practiced, and lived out over time.

The times we are living in ask something deeper of us. In a world that feels smaller every day, where people of different ethnicities, religions, and experiences meet more often, I believe courage is what helps us move toward one another instead of away. It is the willingness to step beyond our own “tribe,” to listen, to learn, and to remember in every interaction that we are all human. For me, courage is found in the choice to share, to learn, and to build bridges—whether the divide is cultural, political, religious, or something else entirely.

Courage often means going against what feels safe or comfortable. It means speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves and being willing to stand beside them, even when there may be a cost. I know this not only in theory, but from experience.

I have experienced moments when I was targeted because of my name, ethnicity, religious identity as a Hindu, and my ability to speak a language other than English. Somehow—thankfully—I found the courage to speak up, advocate for myself, and challenge the stereotypes and misinformation behind those assumptions. I refused to change my name for the comfort of others. Those moments were painful and shocking, and I do not think anyone ever truly gets used to them. They are the kind of experiences no one is ever fully prepared for. And yet, each time, I have come away feeling stronger, more grounded, and empowered.

That experience has also shaped the way I understand courage in relationships and in community. I see it in the quiet, difficult conversations—the one-on-one moments when people from opposing sides choose honesty over distance. It takes courage to look past assumptions and to invite others in our own “tribe” to extend grace to those we have been taught to see as different.

At its core, courage is standing up for what is right and just, rooted in the belief that all people are God’s children—each carrying their own feelings, hopes, fears, and dreams. It is this belief that gives courage its moral weight and its sense of purpose.

Courage is also the quiet resolve to keep going when life feels heavy. It reminds me of the Christian poem “Footprints in the Sand,” and of the strength we are sometimes given when our own feels too small. I have come to believe that courage is not always loud or visible; sometimes it is simply the decision to keep walking forward with faith.

There is courage in family and in relationships—with friends, partners, children, and parents—because love often asks us to be vulnerable, honest, and forgiving. There is also courage in the workplace, where doing what is right, speaking truth with grace, and caring for others can require more strength than we often realize. In all of these places, courage becomes more than an idea. It becomes a way of living with integrity, compassion, and hope.

Padmaja (phonetic: Pud-maah-ja)