Navigating Courage Year-End Reflections & Lessons

I write about CouRage because in systems fueled by rage, those of us who still believe in humanity often find ourselves in distress—sometimes even in denial—of the evil that exists within and around us.

Our hearts, our bodies, and our souls cry out.

When that happens, many of us are reduced to debilitating fear. We look away from the carnage around us, clinging to whatever real or imagined protections we believe might save us.

But it is in that retreat—into safety, comfort, denial—that raging systems are allowed to ravage the masses. It is there that injustice justifies itself, cruelty is normalized, suffering is commodified­, Mother Earth scorched—literally and metaphorically.

In the face of that reality, I believe we are left with two choices:

We either rage back against a raging system with purposeful action—courage—or we continue to disappear into our illusions of powerlessness and isolation.

But here’s what makes true courage rare: It demands we do the internal work first.

• We must acknowledge and confront our own rage, instead of projecting it.

• We must expand beyond the myopic, individualist worldview and truly embody interdependence. What disproportionately harms someone else will proportionately impact you and your children—if not now, eventually.

• We must question the very systems we’ve helped to build—not just for blame or guilt—but to reimagine what could be.

• We must use inquiry not simply to seek right or wrong answers, but as a tool for innovation, empathy, and communal survival.

  
  

And finally—we must choose to act.Not only hope for a better tomorrow, but be willing to fight for it every damn day.

Because our action is a daily offering to humanity—a quiet prayer to God.

Because let’s face it: Every action—or inaction—creates a compounding effect that shapes the world our descendants will inherit.

So what does all this have to do with Navigating Courage?

What is happening across this world is a result of our individual and collective actions—and inactions.

It’s the outcome of us burying our heads in the sand. Of not asking the hard questions. Of failing to question and reimagine inquiry (not AI) as real innovation.

We have abandoned the hard work of building and being in community—for make-believe influencers and curated selves—while many are left to suffer in silence. 

More importantly, we are often unwilling to take the time to truly grabble with our imperfect-perfect selves and the many ways we are all complicit.

That’s what we’re navigating.

We are navigating the Courage to be Human.

Courage is not just resistance. It’s responsibility.

It is the work of choosing humanity—even when the system tries to force us to abandon it.

Because let’s be clear: Unchecked rage will scorch the world.

The only way forward—the only way to begin to rebuild— will require all of us to individually and collectively navigate courage to preserve humanity.

Here’s to doing my part in 2026. One organization, CEO, and leader at a time.

Let’s get to work.

Dr. Robin Martin, President/CEO Navigating Courage, Inc.