Minnesota Institute of Public Health

There’s a difference between a Pollyanna and a Can-do Realist. Many people can find hope in the slightest spark of light and  use that spark to keep on keeping’ on… Resilience at its best. Probably why my crummy golf game often ends with a well played final hole, that keeps me coming back for another try.

Years ago MIPH was contracted by the Mn Depts of Health and of Human Services to  create, implement, and evaluate a mental health promotion initiative between young people and their parents/caregivers, and one of the important thoughts from that campaign was “With Praise and Encouragement, the Sky’s the Limit”. That message still rings true today.

Might also be why we tend to cheer for the underdog, wear rally caps, and do what we can to spur one another on.  Genuine encouragement is contagious.

So whether it’s the tough uphill challenges of our world today, or special uphill battles in work or family life, there is a lot of room for praise and encouragement.

As a former English literature teacher, I recall Shakespeare’s play King Henry V as a bastion of leadership by example and by encouragement, during the toughest of times.  With his English army wounded, tired, hungry and cold, young King Henry made the rounds from campfire to campfire offering genuine, customized reasons why they could still prevail, even against strong odds against the stronger, larger, better equipped French army. (This kind of inspiration would later be referenced as “a little touch of Henry in the night”). He challenged the soldiers to challenge the status quo, to take smart risks.  Henry inspired a vision of what success looked like, and created an image of shared values and of how his soldiers could use their smaller number to their advantage, becoming the envy of future generations, telling them  “And this story too shall  the good (parent) teach his (child)”.

Henry completed his encouragement to his small understaffed army  with leadership by example, and encouragement of the heart.  “We few. We happy few. We band of brothers (sisters)".  Doing great work is an honor.  And more of an exception than it has to be.

And the English Army won.

So, who inspires you and your colleagues?

-- JJ