Doable Heroism

(late post) This day, we speak about the idea of heroism and the traits that goes along with it. This word bears tremendous value for me since it is one of the pillars of Ignatian Leadership as described by Chris Lowney in his book “Heroic Leadership”. In his words, he spoke of heroism as “energizing yourself and others with heroic ambitions and a passion for excellence.” Having this in mind, I would like to have this opportunity to share my own appropriation of heroism as a student in Xavier University.

When I hear the word heroism, the instant idea that comes into mind is “sacrifice”. I believe that mere mortals become heroes because some point in their lives, they made great sacrifices for the common good. In a blink, names such as Rizal, Bonifacio, and Ninoy surfaces when I think about heroes and any man can rationalize that they became heroes because they gave their lives for a cause greater than their selves. Now, I came to understand that the magnanimity of heroism does not necessarily come from acts of giving one’s life (literally dying) but it speaks of all forms of actions contemplated for the greater good and animated beyond the bounds of comfort and safety. Speaking in the context of being a student, I think that a call to be heroic can be very well exercised in our learning, in our relationships and in our great journey of self discovery.

Heroism and Self Awareness

I am a loyalist, a 6 in the Enneagram. My type’s need is to have a sense of security from the perilous world. This is the reason why when I find an organization or a cause that I can trust and believe in, I stick with it undyingly and even reach to a point of blind obedience. In my reflection, I saw that I was trying to fulfil a heroic deed when I consciously and intently try to loose away from that sense of security and direct guidance from a group that has become synonymous with my identity. I know that I am breaking away from neither the cause nor the relationships but I am breaking away from that sense of security, familiarity, and comfortableness that would have solidified my compulsions more if I would not confront it. I intently moved into an uncharted territory plagued by uncertainty and instability – the very thing that we sixes fear. In a personal level, that is a simple attempt to be heroic which is facing my underlying fear and breaking my own security for a greater good. That greater good is redemption which hopes to capacitate me to be freer.

Heroism and relationships

I never had a girlfriend before so I speak in the context of NGFSB paradigm which pretty much gravitates around the idea of non-romantic relationships and the “kuya pa help” relationships. I believe working in the context is all about offering your help for others in the form of tutoring, help in their projects, help them in a certain degree facilitate their own struggles and countless others. I speak as if I am public property but in a sense it is close to that. With my relative freedom, I can offer myself readily to others. I believe my challenge is to always be ready to give and to give more and this is simple heroism.

Heroism and Learning

One subject I can instantly recall is a minor subject. TAX 1 is a dreaded subject for me because I simply find it hard to comprehend it. It takes ample amount of brain energy to remember all the necessary elements needed to identify certain taxable categories. Now I believe this is where heroism can be exercised. It is exercised when I achieve to completely eradicate that minor-major mentality which is common among us. I should treat all subjects in equal weight and this should be reflected in the amount of time allotted for its study and mastery. By going against that psychological inertia, I can begin to build a momentum that hopefully will lead me to get better grades – a personal heroic deed of challenging deeply seated mentalities.

So again, I hope that I somehow simplified the magnanimity of heroism into doable acts that can very well exercise in a personal sphere. But in the end, the highest call of heroism is really giving ourselves, sacrificing and sharing our selves to something greater than our own – an in our Catholic context, for the God and his people (The Kingdom of God).