Courage Is Not Hiding Fears

I met Larry this week. Larry has a very powerful story of being an alcoholic on the job. We shared the stage three times this week as he helped his fellow co-workers step up and admit it when they have a problem with substance or alcohol abuse. At the end of each of Larry's three speeches this week, he received a standing ovation.

Larry admits it is hard for him to accept a standing ovation. He is uncomfortable with it. That was, until I helped him see that the ovations were for his courage. It wasn't the speech they were applauding, it was his courage to take the stage and openly admit that he had a drinking problem.

In every audience, the numbers would dictate that there were one or two others struggling with a substance abuse problem, but in the mind of a man, reaching for help is the same as being weak.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Your admission is courageous. Your willingness to deal with a problem is courageous. Your wanting a better life is courageous. Trying to numb your pain, fear and stress with alcohol or drugs is the weak thing. A man who won't face his fears head-on is not a tower of strength. He is a potential reportable incident on the job.

SAFETY ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: Do you really think people will laugh at you if you sought help for a drinking problem? Are you afraid your friends wouldn't want anything to do with you if you admitted you had a problem? Well then they're not really your friends - they're just your drinking buddies.

Dealing with your demons takes courage. I admire those who are willing to change their ways. I look up to them not down at them. I applaud the man who admits he has a problem. The man who wakes each morning to face another day without drugs or alcohol has far more courage than the man who hides behind bottle.

My own father stayed sober for the last thirteen years of his life - even in the face of inoperable cancer. The cancer killed him but the bottle never beat him. That took courage.

What kind of courage are you made of? Will you continue to keep your fears a secret and put your life and the lives of your co-workers at risk or will you show us real courage?