In Raising Courageous Kids, I write that courage is managing fear to overcome adversity. Courage is a positive response to fear. Heroism is a special form of courage in which risks are taken or sacrifices are made for a noble goal. I believe a woman mountain climber struggling to reach the summit of a great mountain during a fierce storm demonstrates courage. If we learn the reason she is climbing is to bring an injured mountain climber down from the peak, then her purpose elevates what she is doing from what is simply courageous to what is heroic.