
Does the thought of peering down from the top of a 10 metre high diving tower at a swimming pool scare you? Would you have the courage to dive or jump from that height? It’s a question the contestants on Australia’s Celebrity Splash! – Channel 7’s latest reality series, must have asked themselves before agreeing to take part in the show.
While it may have seemed amusing to watch the stars hit the water in a less than graceful manner, each competitor actually showed viewers how he or she had overcome a number of personal fears. There was probably the fear of making a fool of one’s self on national TV, the fear of hitting the water, the fear of being injured, and the really big one, the fear of heights.
Those who participated in the show actually gave a jaw-dropping display of nerve and courage that was inspiring to watch. Let’s face it, those celebs were never in the same class as Australian Olympic diving gold medallist, Matthew Mitcham. They were amateurs. What they did on the show was not easy. I know, because as a teenager I tried to do the same thing.
Years ago, Melbourne’s Brunswick public swimming baths used to have a 10 metre high diving platform. With great bravado, teenage boys often jumped from it. One Saturday afternoon I decided to give it a go. After all, how hard could it be! So I climbed all the way up the metal ladder to the top. I walked over to the edge and looked down. Too late, I realized that it was a massive drop into the pool below.
Panic set in. How was I going to get off the tower? I was too terrified to climb backwards down that thin vertical ladder with boys climbing up it, and I was too scared to jump. My mind was paralysed with fear. Many minutes ticked by. Boys started pushing past, laughing and giving me pitying looks before they jumped. I stood there immobilized. No one came to help. Eventually it dawned on me that there was only one way down. I went to the edge, closed my eyes, held my breath and jumped.
What enabled me to make the dreaded jump? One word. Courage. According to Stephen A. Diamond, Ph.D., a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist practicing in Los Angeles, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but moving ahead despite fear. For if there is no fear, who needs courage?… Courage must be discovered internally, and seems to spring from a place in us we previously never knew existed, some secret reservoir or inner source of strength, sustenance and steeliness in the face of life’s inevitable catastrophes, frustrations and disappointments.”
While the boldness to overcome fear may seem to be intangible, many people believe that courage has a spiritual basis. They see it as a mental capacity that can be drawn on right in the middle of fear-provoking situations. For them, courage is a quality of thought which enables even the most timid person to take positive action. This means that no one has to remain frozen with dread. Anyone can be fearless when needed.
As Dr Diamond points out, courage is internal . It can be thought of as a reservoir of inner resilience – a mental capability that can be described as strength-of-mind. This can be found within a person’s own consciousness. It’s right there, ready to be activated. Not only does this naturally stimulating mental power exist in thought, it can be fostered and supported. Numerous individuals have found that having faith in a divine Presence – an intelligent force, has reinforced their capacity to be strong in frightening situations.
The concept of courage as being a ‘mental strength’ is echoed in an ancient text that has comforted and fortified many people down the centuries. Its message reminds us that a divine Presence has not given anyone “the spirit of fear”. Instead, we’re told that we have within our thinking, power, love, and soundness of mind – the ability to be courageous in times of trouble .
I certainly learned about having courage the day I jumped from the 10 metre high diving platform. As I hit the bottom and struggled back up to the surface, I discovered that the bravery to move forward, comes from a spiritual place in our consciousness. It’s ready and waiting for us to access at any time and in any situation.

I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
I’m intrigued by your story Beverly. It certainly must have taken a lot of courage for you to make the plunge from the diving tower! But what actually happened after you jumped off? I feel sure that getting airborne wasn’t the end of your diving ordeal. Am I right?
Thanks Frank for your comment. Yes it did take courage… and you’re right, jumping was not the end of the story. It wasn’t a good idea to hold my breath as I jumped. It was a long way to the bottom of the pool and then I had to get back up to the surface. I found myself badly running out of breath. I was terrified. I asked for divine help. I made it to the surface. It was quite an experience!
There is a pool here(San Antonio,Texas), I have no idea how high it is,but I remember the fear… your words brought back those feelings. Since I was five years old, my mother expressed” your not my baby anymore” these words echoe in my mind, courage drove me to walk to school alone, it drove me to push my self to learn, and it pushes me stand up for whats right, it has costed me employment on more than one occasion. But I am happy with my choices, and with myself.
Hello Jose. Thank you for your comment. It sounds like you have been expressing a great deal of courage right from early in your life…and you are still doing so. Well done. Keep up the good work.
Hi Beverly. another great message of hope, thankyou again! Your blog about the “reality” show ‘Celebrity Splash’ and their required courage, puts me in mind of another show being currently televised “Biggest Loser” (dislike the name, although what they “lose” is only their false sense of themselves of course). During the show they are constantly challenged to go beyond their present beliefs about themselves and in so doing, find their true potential. Also they are put into situations where they have to overcome their fears by abseiling down multi story buildings, jumping out of helicopters into a lake etcetera. Those that “face their fears” and take the plunge, find exhilaration and freedom, when they discover that the fear after all was powerless. I guess that shows us all we are forever and only sustained by Love.
Hello Anne, so glad you liked this post on courage. Yes the show you mention also encourages contestants to overcome fear. Digging deep and finding the spiritual strength to move forward does bring rewards as you say. These TV shows encourage all of us to be courageous when facing a challenge. The good thing is we have that courage within our consciousness right now.
Thanks for your blog Beverly. It reminded me of a time some years ago when my husband and were in Noosa on holidays. We were keen to experience white water rafting. A group of us put on all the gear, wet suits and headgear etc. We were taken to the river where the raft was waiting for us. We were confronted with a huge volume of water coming from the power house like a waterfall. We had to jump at least 20 feet into the surging river and into the raft! There was no other way so that took courage! I don’t know how we prayed at the time but the trip down the river was exhilarating and when we had to do it a second time the fear had gone so we enjoyed the experience.
Thank you Yvonne for your comment. What an experience! You certainly showed your courage in overcoming the fear. Well done. What will you attempt next I wonder?
Here is a strange thing I am a seasoned skydiver with more than 1000 jumps to my name but I cannot go to edge of a building a look over it gives me chills and my legs feel like jelly, when we skydive it is different standing in the doorway about to jump you cant see the ground below but in a building I can…. strange
Thanks Gary for your comment. Well done on your skydiving. Fear can be an odd emotion. The good news is that every fear can be conquered. You have courage that you can access in every situation.
Thank you Beverly, what you write is so helpful.
I continually follow your blogs and find your posts really relevant and supportive.
I truly appreciate them.
With love, Simone
I am so glad Simone that you’re finding my posts helpful. Thank you for letting me know. It’s good that they are ‘hitting the spot’ with you. I’m grateful that you’re following this blog and leaving comments as you’re doing. I look forward to hearing from you again. With a hug of appreciation from me.