Between Fortitude and Arrogance

Between Fortitude and Arrogance

Lot of well wishers tell me, “You haven’t seen life enough to comment upon a subject like this”, thankfully having determined, that, this is a subject worthy of being written about.

 However I truly believe that, the day, we are brought to the world, is the day we are enswathed into this journey of finding our stand, between fortitude and arrogance; and of course comprehension happens very gradually.

I arrived at the threshold of writing this article because a dear colleague was witness to another’s outburst.” I cannot work in fear”. Having known this certain person, who claimed to be working under dominating circumstances, I was compelled to think; whether the situation of working under the boss, was as fearful as one might think or was it the subordinate’s insolence. And therefore how were these two conditions different. Did fearlessness mean being rebellious always?

My journey to find out the divergence between these two states of mind, transcended into this document. In order to arrive at a conclusion, we will need to dwell on what is Fear?

Fear manifests itself in feeling of inadequacy; inadequacy in confronting the world, our own selves, fear of uncertainty of failure and the biggest fear; that of death and suffering.

Fear, I have been told, is not our inherent tendency, but being valiant is natural.

I beg to differ; our whole personality is ridden with fears as an infant, a teenager, a grown up and even in ageing. It is said, the fear of being deserted, begins as a child and as far as I know, it is consistent throughout our adulthood and multiplies during our old age. No one can claim not to have had any fears at all, at some or the other point in their lives.

It is this fear, which provides the implicit basis for our subject of study:-Fortitude and Arrogance. The way we look at fear; react consciously or subconsciously to the qualms; categorizes us into either of the former or the latter category.

Fortitude is acceptance of the presence of fear, transforming it into your strength and moving along. Self confidence, Integrity and sincerity beckon fearlessness. If I know who I am, I will not doubt what I can or cannot do and thus will avoid falling into the trap of pretense, lies and deceit. The dictionary defines fortitude as gallantry, braveness, boldness and levelheadedness. Hence, it is very evident that fearlessness or fortitude will nourish the delicate balance between the mind and the heart.

This path is not easy to follow, it brings with it obstacles which discourage you along the journey, every now and then. However, the focus should always be to move on, toughening up at each step, more determined than ever.

I recently read an article written by Margaret Wheatley which described fearlessness as a manifestation of love; I understand it… as love for your own self, others, for fellow living beings. If you are fearless, you shall equally be for others, family, friends, flora and fauna. The romantic notions of truth and justice for all, takes its roots here and is transformed into fortitude.

Arrogance also stems from love; for only one’s own self and absence of the same love for others. It is the failure to acknowledge fear and one’s own insecurities, deny that they exist, and then behave in a manner which impinges other people’s spaces. Arrogance also refers to the failure to introspect and see the situation as is. It is created from the hollow pillars of ME being right and the entire world at loggerheads, despite the fact that you in your heart of hearts know the truth. The dictionary defines arrogance as having or displaying one’s exaggerated version, superiority and exhibiting insolence or disdain for others. However the first person that you end up victimizing is not the world, but your own self through self delusions and evasion of truth. Arrogance fails to introspect, and therefore is never in harmony with your mind. The balance gets eroded with passage of time until one day realization dawns, but by then, maybe it is too late to make amends.

Fearlessness will not rebel without reason, it will strive to create a platform where in Tagore’s words, exists “a heaven of freedom” and for all and sundry it shall mean the same. Proving your worth and mettle and then being eligible for the fruits of the labour, earning them and aiming again is being fearless. It shall not whine and cry when someone else gets a bigger or sweeter fruit, because it knows; everyone deserves the chance and believes in the providence to do justice.

Arrogance or Insolence on the other hand, continues to imagine a place, where the sweeter and bigger fruits constantly land up in your lap, whether or not you deserve it.

In order for us to live, work or have blissful relationships; it’s imperative to draw that thin line between the two. Insolence or arrogance is never tolerated by anyone, primarily indicated by those who are in control and at a more sublime level by those who are beside you or behind you. Rebellion is not always about fortitude, sometimes, more often than not; it is disguised failure of your own self. Such rebels never become leaders in the true sense of the word and end up harming everyone around them. It is for us, to deal with our own fears and insecurities, but how we do it, makes or breaks us. It is easy to brush them under the carpet and act as if they were never there. It takes gallantry and fortitude of the first order to accept them and continue to work towards the personal “heaven of freedom”.

It is always a choice, to live more each day; and that life becomes possible when one chooses fortitude over arrogance. The path is clearer, the mind; at peace and the heart is content and solace which originates only from fortitude.

I choose the road less travelled and revel in the joys of knowing, that, I have weaknesses and yet I shall aim high, work hard towards it and enjoy the fruits while along the journey. I remember to be fearless and steer clear from anything which is not..