In a small village lived Veeru, known for his courage and bravery. One evening, Jai from a neighbouring village questioned his reputation and challenged him. He said if he was truly the bravest, he should go alone at night and hammer a nail into the graveyard ground. Veeru smiled and accepted, as he was already used to spending nights guarding the village, patrolling the forest near the graveyard.

Before Veeru left for the graveyard, Jai whispered in his ear that he would hear strange noises, might hear a lion roaring, and would hear ghosts crying and leaves rustling — he must not get scared through all of it.

Veeru nodded and walked into the night. The graveyard was still, every sound sharper, yet he hammered the nail and turned to leave. At that moment he felt something hold him back. His body froze and Jai’s words flooded his mind, merging into a single terrifying story. Convinced a ghost had caught him, Veeru screamed and collapsed. By morning, villagers found him unharmed, his dhoti caught on the very nail he had hammered into the ground.

The story reminds us that courage is often weakened not by reality itself, but by the narratives we carry within us, and that we tend to see what our stories train us to see, especially in moments of uncertainty and the unknown.

A couple of questions for leaders:

  • What stories are shaping what you are seeing in moments of uncertainty, and how are those stories influencing the choices you make?
  • If you were to pause and look again, what might change if what is holding you back is not reality, but the lens through which you are viewing it?