Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Firm and Undaunted, Alma 57:20


“As the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted” (Alma 57:20)
I was reading this recently and somehow I noticed that word “undaunted.”  I got curious about it and looked it up.  To be undaunted means one refuses to be intimidated or discouraged by the difficulty, danger, or disappointment that would bother other people. 

How does one stay undaunted?  I think this involves the ability to emotionally dissociate yourself a little when facing difficulty, to mentally step back to view one’s initial emotional reaction and make a conscious choice not to be bothered or worried, but to see it as a challenge that can be overcome.

The ancient historian Herodotus wrote a good example of an undaunted attitude.  “It is said that on the eve of battle, [the Spartan, Dienekes] was told by a native of Trachis that the [enemy] Persian archers were so numerous that, their arrows would block out the sun. Dienekes, however, undaunted by this prospect, remarked with a laugh, 'Good. Then we will fight in the shade.”  An undaunted person sees the danger, but chooses not to be bothered or worried. 

Today let’s practice staying firm and undaunted.

0 comments: