In 1939, at the beginning of WWII, the British Government printed over 2-million posters that were created to go up within 24-hours of the outbreak of war. The objective of the posters was to keep morale of the British people high in the event of a German invasion. The posters were masterminded by civil servants, but delivered as a message from the King. The maxim of each poster emphasized the responsibility of each British citizen as a member of the British collective.
Two of the slogans used in this campaign were: "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory" and "Keep Calm and Carry On." The mottos of these posters tap into the zeitgeist of the current economic times and are experiencing a resurgence of popularity, which has lead to a merchandizing bonanza. You've probably seen one of these maxims on a mug, T-shirt, screensaver... or one of the parodies that say things like "Now Panic and Freak Out" in the same font and layout.
Things are so bad for so many people right now, that you have to have a sense of humor at a certain point or you really might lose it. How can we as a nation keep our individual and collective morale high in such desperate times? I think the key lies in a push for self-reliance, a philosophy made famous in an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1841. In this entry I will share 5-tips that can help you become more resilient and help you create self-reliance.
This past weekend I watched a panel discussion called "Reawakening America: From Poverty to Prosperity" hosted by Tavis Smiley that focused on what we can do individually and collectively to deal with this crisis. The statistics of poverty and economic inequality are staggering. With so many talented people out of work and the 'middle-class' evaporating rapidly, there is a palpable-and contagious-sense of hopelessness in the air. How can we turn this around? The panel didn't offer a specific agenda, but as someone who focuses on the power of physical activity to transform lives, I believe that motivating ourselves and others to be active and healthy will create a nationwide energy based in strength, hope and confidence, not fear, hate and resentment.
As a panelist on the Reawakening America broadcast, Suze Orman spoke about her belief that every individual has the power to change his or her attitudes and behavior and can create a chain reaction of change. Your daily attitude and behavior impacts everyone that you come in contact with throughout the day and you have the power to start a domino-effect from the bottom up that could have national ramifications. We've seen it happen in the Arab Spring and it can happen here too. It matters what you say, it matters what you do! So, as Spike Lee said, "Do the Right Thing."
Below are 5 tips that are rooted in the philosophy of The Athlete's Way to make you more resilient and help create more self-reliance.
1. Stay Healthy: When you feel tired, sick or depressed everyday tasks become monumental. If you dedicate yourself to staying healthy you will have more energy, strength and stamina--which are key to self-reliance. By eating a healthier diet, exercising, connecting face-to-face with other people, reducing stress and getting enough sleep you create a life-long recipe for resilience. The principles of wellness are basic and will never change. All you have to do is commit to making small changes in your daily routine. These small lifestyle changes will lead to long-term and permanent improvements in your mental, physical and emotional well-being.
Behind The Athlete's Way approach to motivating teens and pre-teens to take better care of themselves is an understanding that in order to want to take care of yourself you have to begin with a foundation of self-respect, self-love and hope for your future. As a gay teenager, I was very self-destructive which came from a place of self-hate and deep-rooted cynicism and anger at the world around me. Abusing my body was a slow form of suicide, which it is for anyone who neglects to take care of him or herself. I really didn't want to be around to deal with more pain, suffering and bullying for eternity. Running helped turn my life around by making me more optimistic, self-reliant and resilient. I think that any type of regular activity can do this and through exercise we all have the power to take our lives to a higher ground.
