#Positively Stressed - Week 23
Scroll through social media for five minutes and you’ll see what’s wrong with the world: climate change, food and housing insecurity, mental health crises, cancer rates, micro-aggressions… you name it.
Some people respond by becoming “keyboard warriors” – amplifying the issues but rarely moving the needle toward change.
A better approach – one I might be a little biased toward – is the USMC’s “Bias for Action”. It’s the willingness to take initiative, act boldly, and accept some risk to achieve meaningful results.
Why is it better? I’ll let Eckhart Tolle answer that: “Any action is often better than no action… If it is a mistake, at least you learn something… If you remain stuck, you learn nothing.”
That Bias for Action is what fuels the nonprofit world.
But did you know that volunteering is also mental health care!
Volunteering gives us purpose, perspective, connection, and allows us to reflect with gratitude on what we already have. This is backed up by studies which show regular volunteering has been linked to lower stress, better mood, and stronger resilience during difficult times.
This is born out in my experiences with two veteran-focused organizations: The American Legion and Frost Call.
The American Legion emerged after WWI and was born out of the need to support veterans reintegrating after the war including employment, healthcare, access to benefits, and even promoting civic education.
Frost Call was founded much more recently as a response to disconnection and loneliness – early warning signs of deeper mental health challenges. The solution: community through a shared passion for board, card, and video games.
Every organizations need people to be involved and both the American Legion and Frost Call offer roles for every level of time and energy.
Participants show up when they can. That alone matters!
Leaders support the structure of the organization, maintain accountability, and focus on the strategy of the organization. A few hours a month makes a big impact!
Organizers are the heartbeat of the organization. They plan, execute, and innovate on limited budgets and time.
Whether you’re looking to give back, build professional skills, or just connect with others who care – show up. Then when you’re ready – contribute and lead.
Start small. Once a year, once a month, once a week – it’s all progress.
And the reward? You’re not just supporting others – you start healing yourself.
As Nike says, “Just do it.”
Don’t forget to check me out on LinkedIn to participate in the weekly poll!