Can you keep your head when all around you are losing theirs?

This morning, the words of the poem ‘IF’ by Rudyard Kipling fills my mind.

Can you keep your head when all around you seem to be losing theirs and blaming you?

If you’re a parent or lead a project or organisation, I’m sure you will have experienced this at some time.  Placing blame on others makes it easy to avoid responsibility or take the time to understand a situation fully.

I read this poem every day as a child. It was printed on a poster and stuck on the back of our toilet door. I’m convinced it strengthened me and kept a hope alive through some challenging times. If you visited our home and spent a little time with us, you would have read this too!

I’m grateful to my parents for introducing me to various art forms that penetrated the psyche of my soul.

There have been times in life when this poem or other art forms have inspired me to take reflect on current circumstances. To take stock. I’ve been moved to embrace the qualities, character traits, skills and competencies I’ve needed to muster the courage for action and to reflect on those parts that don’t sit so well with me. It’s caused me to think!

Do you have examples of works of art, poetry, music, dance, stories, films etc that have spoken to you in ways that have influenced the way you live?

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