Keep calm and take it easy
Keep Calm and Carry On was a motivational phrase and poster published by the British Government in 1939. The aim of this poster was to elevate the morale of the British people while preparing for the Second World War.
Our current society requires a boost in morale to encourage joy in people’s lives. This can be a challenge with work environments that lack human understanding. Many job applications requiring applicants to have gained experience over time, which may be unrealistic as most graduates or school leavers are applying for jobs to gain experience. This is particularly due to an absence of patience required to teach and train people and applying realistic timelines for anticipating improvements from employees. People are constantly rushing and expecting instant results, quick service, next-day delivery while humans are required to operate like robots, to produce at the same speed as machines without valuing people’s ability to learn and the limit that humans have.
This current climate of lockdowns and restrictions should be a period of reflection including taking breaks and winding down, instead it has accelerated the velocity at which society operates. This has also had an impact on relationships. Many people connect to advance their career trajectory instead of creating genuine relationships amongst their peers. It comes as no surprise that loneliness is plaguing our communities; exhaustion, over-ambition, unrealistic expectations and limited genuine connections with people. We all need to Keep Calm and Take it Easy!
Enjoy Life
Humans are complicated and complex beings, but life does not have to be and should be simple. Spend every day doing something that brings you joy. It can be as short as praying the rosary which takes 15-20 mins (and provides powerful results!), reading a chapter of a book, watching a movie, or having your favourite chocolate bar. Whatever brings you joy, relish in it without worrying what others may think.
Work
Move at your own pace at work, work at your own level and progress at your own rate. If you employer cannot respect that and you feel unappreciated and undervalued, start searching for an alternative – there is always an alternative. Work in temp roles until you find the right fit for you. Avoid spending your life stuck in an unfavourable environment that isn’t valuing your service.
Relationships
Maintain relationships while you can because it will only get harder the older you get. Swiping left or right on dating apps, friendship apps or networking sites are not authentic to the human experience. You want the story behind your friendship with someone to be detached from a technological platform that only aims to make a profit from the void in many people’s lives. Searching for friends is the easy job, maintaining and sustaining a healthy friendship is where the real work begins. Send a text message to that person you met at a group event. Try and swap contacts with people when you meet them at a social gathering and remain authentic.
The current physical restrictions we are all facing is limiting our physical capabilities as people but should not limit our human capabilities. Psalms 47 verse 1 states that we should “clap your hands for joy, all people! Praise God with loud songs!” we can remain joyful during the dry and painful seasons in our lives. This time of restrictions may be a time gifted to us to really reconvene and explore how humanity is evolving. So, Keep Calm and Take it Easy, as life is too short with so much to discover and explore.