“Keep Calm and Carry On” – British Ministry of Information, 1939

Originating from Zen Buddhism, this cultural practice in Japan is often taught to children and persists through adulthood. During great tragedies, such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, many Japanese citizens remained resilient and demonstrated civility by helping one another, despite their own tragic circumstances. It was also evident during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant when dozens of workers remained at the power plant even during times of severe danger and life-threatening conditions.

An everyday example might be a Japanese mother telling their child, “gaman shinasai.” We might equate it to the saying “grin and bear it” or the popular “keep calm…” quotes that you come across in your Instagram feed. If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve probably experienced gaman when you took deep breaths before reacting to sudden outbreaks from your child or students. It’s something that is out of your control at the moment, and you try to maintain self-control—demonstrating resilience, calmness, and composure, and accepting the moment with inner strength and grace.

Some believe that gaman contributes to the development of poor mental health conditions caused by holding in the feelings of anxiety and intense feelings of despair. As with many cultural principles and beliefs, it’s not a solution for every situation. You can begin by applying bochi bochi ganbatte. Start small with moments of frustration, anger, or stress. Before you impulsively react to the situation, take a few deep breaths, find your center of calmness, and focus on your quiet strength to learn from that brief moment. Concentrate on your well-being, cultivate consciousness, and remain grounded in the present. Practice mindfulness and release your anxiety by accepting the present moment as it is. Center on gratitude and a more positive outcome. It’s not going to be easy at first, but it’ll soon become a part of your everyday approach to managing challenging experiences, potentially helping you and those around you live a happier and more peaceful life.

Charred hills, embered air —
still, a sprout climbs through the ash,
bold green against black.

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