4 qualities of a hero

I recently finished a book on Ernest Shackleton, an early explorer of Antarctica. His story is so inspiring and, frankly, nearly impossible to believe. Although Shackleton never fulfilled his dream of reaching the South Pole, he overcame so many impossibilities that it inspires me to think, What makes a hero?

To answer this, I’ve compiled a list of these 4 qualities that I think every hero should possess:

1) A hero takes responsibility

Shackleton nearly died on every expedition, but he always put this crew first. Even when his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in ice, he worked hard to keep his team alive. Real heroes, like Shackleton, take responsibility for the people in their care.

2) A hero never quits

Shackleton could have quit many times during his expeditions. But even at his lowest points, he kept fighting. Some of the bravest people in history were those who refused to give up. This quote, often attributed to Winston Churchill, says it best: “if you’re going through hell, keep going.”

3) A hero listens to advice

Shackleton surrounded himself with scientists, sailors, and navigators. When the expeditions faltered, Shackleton listened to his team, no matter how strongly some might disagree with him. Heroes understand they’re not geniuses in every field and will ask questions.

4) A hero never stops adventuring

A hero isn’t satisfied with 1 or 2 victories. They head back into the fray, determined to conquer more. After his failure on the Endurance expedition, Ernest Shackleton raised funds to go on another trip, still intent on reaching the South Pole.

And that’s it!

We can all take inspiration from a hero like this. If any of these qualities are missing in your life, work to implement them throughout your week.

You can find more heroic qualities by researching and studying important historical figures. One of my favorite past times is to read historical biographies. It amazes me what brave men and women can accomplish.