In this guide, we will be covering what you can do to make sure your day goes as positive as possible, what you can do to pick yourself up after a stressful day, and the importance of a day plan so you can feel great after a long day of work.

Diversity: Not all people work the same job

Before we get into this guide it is important to know that not all people work the same job. We all have different professions and each job has its pros and cons in terms of how well you can manage your life inside of work. For example, it may be a lot harder/easier for someone in fast food to manage certain aspects of their life over a person who is in an office environment.

That is life, we all have a different position in society and it is important that we learn how to adapt to the jobs we work in so we can live and function with clarity.

It is also important to note that we shouldn’t make excuses for why we can’t improve our mental health, blaming it on our profession or lack of support. Anyone can improve aspects in their life in an effort to feel better. Although there may not be any help right in front of you to aid with your problems, all it takes is a little effort and all of your answers will be there.

Mental Health Services:

• Family or Friends
• Colleagues or Managers
• Hospital or Psychiatrists
• A Mental Health Helpline

It is vital to not only know your ways of help but to think about them often. A great way of managing this specifically is by thinking to yourself often if you need to consult someone about how you feel and if you need it then going to find that support is the next best thing.

Preparation, Routine, Execution

There are three things that you need to keep in mind daily in order to manage your mental health problems. These three things are:

Preparation

If you are never prepared for your day then you will always live with a sense of uncertainty and that is where a lot of mental health conditions begin, notably anxiety and depression.

All it takes is 15 minutes every day to plan what you are going to be doing the next day. There is no need to be afraid of detailing your day and If something happens which throws you off your plan then there is no need to worry. You can always replan the day again whether that be mentally or physically.

There is a famous Sun Tzu quote “Every battle is won before it is ever fought” from his book “the art of war”. This quote doesn’t just apply to war, It also applies very well to real-life scenarios and thus makes it an Important quote to remember for life.

Routine

The next thing which is important to keep a positive attitude towards work is routine. As human creatures we are historically “routine machines” and running a routine can help you automate your life thus making it easier to live with yourself. 

It is also important to have a healthy routine in life. It is unhealthy to bring drinking beer into your morning routine but you should focus more on doing something like cutting out your alarm clock as done by Jeff Bezos and more.

Execution

The last but most important part of your life is execution. When completing actions, whether it is as simple as laying your bed to completing a big task at work you should always execute your task properly. This doesn’t just mean that you need to do everything perfectly because that is not how life works at all. We all make mistakes, so we should thrive on them. Be as confident as possible with every action you take in your life and complete tasks with intent. Give yourself a meaning to wake up every morning and get ready.

Mental Health Help

Mental Health Helplines (UK)

Samaritans | www.samaritans.org | 116 123

Mind | www.mind.org.uk | 0300 123 3393

Rethink | www.rethink.org | 0300 5000 927

Papyrus | www.papyrus-uk.org | 0800 068 4141

Mental Health Helplines (US)

MHA | www.mhanational.org | 1-800-273-8255

SAMHSA | https://www.samhsa.gov | 1-877-726-4727

The post A TedX Guide to improving mental health at work appeared first on TEDx Doncaster.

That’s the result of today’s all-consuming society. Many people feel as though they’re trapped living the same routine, a routine that tosses simple tasks like cooking a meal, or cleaning the house to the bottom of the pile. 

If this is the case, something isn’t right.

In this TEDx Doncaster article, we’ll take a look at five of the main time traps that are holding you back from having time to relax and have fun, and how you can start to free up some of that time.

Not Getting Up Early Enough

It is fair to assume that most people today operate on a nine to five schedule. For those that wake up early, you’ll be aware of the advantages over those that snooze the alarm once, or twice.

Numerous data studies have concluded that waking up early fetches success. Early risers are known to arrive early to work, have the chance to eat breakfast, and have improved rates of productivity. Whereas people who sleep in are inclined to complain that there is not enough time in the day to achieve their goals.

Multitasking, Don’t Do It

Doing two things at once might lead you to think you’re getting more done in the time that you have, but studies show we’re not as productive as we first think.

Data shows that people who multitask are less productive and waste more time when switching between tasks than they would if they were to focus on one task at a time.

It is also suggested that multitasking is harmful for the human brain, as it is simply not capable of focusing on a variety of tasks at once.

The lesson here is to deal with one task at a time and react to single issues to prevent themselves. Trying to do too much at once will only induce stress.

Spending Time Freely Without Tracking

Keeping track of your time is an excellent way of maintaining control over your day.

Record everything on the agenda, from appointments and deadlines to everything in-between. By making an analysis of the time you’ve spent, you’ll be able to see if you’re spending the right amount of time on certain tasks, and how you can be more efficient moving forward.

Without tracking, people are often left wondering where all their time in the day has gone. 

Organisation is Key

Misplacing your possessions is a certified way to waste your time. Not only that, but these time traps can bring down your rate of productivity and mood. 

Think about it, if you’ve lost your keys and end up spending 10 minutes looking for them without success, you start to feel stressed and angry at yourself for not being more organised.

Staying organised is a great way to give your productivity a real kick up the behind, and you’re able to free up that little bit of extra time to spend on things and with people you enjoy.

Focusing On Speed Rather Than Quality

The Antidote, a book by Oliver Burkeman, tells of a Formula One pit crew.

This team, which depends on fast, efficient teamwork to find success, realised that they were not functioning at top speed when they concentrated on being fast. Instead, they found their best success when they emphasised smooth teamwork and functioning together as a group.

The same applies to time management, when people are too concerned with working at a fast pace, they end up with less than impressive results or even taking longer to complete tasks.

By focusing on the quality of work rather than rushing, you’ll start to see improvements in the work you produce and you’ll start to get more done with the time you have.

For more wonderful ideas worth sharing, take a look at our TEDx Doncaster blog posts here.

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Where does it come from, and how can we create more?

First, we need to look at what motivation is.

What is Motivation?

Put simply, motivation is the driving force that causes us to strive towards meeting our personal goals or needs. 

Motivation is typically influenced by our desire to reach a certain goal, like landing a job role that you’ve dreamed of for a long time for example. Motivation can also be impacted by potential gain, meaning that some people won’t be influenced to act upon certain decisions if they feel their efforts won’t be rewarded.

Why is Motivation Important?

Motivation is vital to the progression of us as individuals and to the improvement of society because it provides us with milestones to reach, situations to resolve. If we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations, motivation is the key factor in deciding to strive for something better.

Motivation helps us to right our wrongs, chapel old habits and help us deal with challenges as well as chasing new opportunities.

Wondering how to get motivated? let’s answer that.

How To Get Motivated 

Many of us struggle to find motivation, sometimes even for small and simple tasks such as making the bed, tidying the house or even making a meal, never mind thinking about which career path to follow for the next five years.

People who suffer with mental health issues can find it much tougher to conjure up enough motivation to lead their daily lives. Issues such as depression and anxiety are very common, especially in young people. However, there are ways in which we can all attempt to battle our personal struggles in pursuit of that elusive concoction that is motivation, so here are some helpful tips:

Set one, specific, achievable goal

By hitting goals and reaching targets we can start to feel accomplished, and it doesn’t matter how large or menial the task, simply setting a goal and achieving it can be enough to provide the sense of productivity that spurs us on to complete other tasks and objectives.

Start small, and set a goal in the morning that you can achieve throughout the day or by the end of the day. Maybe you wan to try a new exercise at the gym? Or cook a new recipe? It really can be anything.

Eventually, after completing small specific goals, you can venture further into bigger and more expansive goals that can improve the quality of your living situation, career or personal relationships.

Reaching out to your friends and family is a great way to support your personal development. By confiding in others, we create a space for others to invest in the betterment of our lives. 

Ways We Can Keep On Track

Keeping track of every goal and movement made in the build up to achieving those goals is an excellent way to – you guessed it – keep on track. Nowadays there are plenty of apps on our phones that we can use to keep on top of our actions, even a good old fashioned diary would do the trick. By keeping score, you’ll be able to see exactly how you’ve progressed, and if you feel unsatisfied with the results, you’ll be able to see where things got a bit bumpy or you went wrong.

Another way we can stay motivated is by practising positive self-talk and mindfulness. While it might sound like an uncomfortable process, standing in-front of the mirror and listing things you like about yourself – out loud – is an excellent way to generate a bit of self positivity. Whereas mindfulness can help us stay calm, relaxed and focused.

TEDx Doncaster Ideas

For more information on how to get and stay motivated, please find this helpful online guide. Likewise, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, reach out to those around you for support, seek help from your local and online health services. Here is a link for online mental health support services that are committed to guiding you in the right direction when you just aren’t feeling it.

For more innovative ideas, touching on a range of subject matters, visit our ideas blog on the TEDxDoncaster website.

The post A TEDx Doncaster Guide on How to get Motivated appeared first on TEDx Doncaster.

In this article, we’ll take a look at five of the most popular TED Talks selected by TEDxDoncaster, all of which are founded upon a varied array of interests and topics,.

1. Do Schools Kill Creativity? – Sir Ken Robinson, 2006

Sir Ken Robinson presents an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that treats creativity as a priority – considering it with such importance and integrity that surrounds educational areas like numeracy and literacy.

Robinson suggests that by diminishing creativity at a younger age, as we grow, we become afraid to be wrong. Industries as we know them have become founded upon this philosophy that mistakes are the worst things a person can make.

One story Robinson shares encourages us to reconsider the way we perceive behaviours in children. Perhaps we’re too quick to assume that children have underlying disorders that could be affecting their behaviours in environments such as the classroom. Perhaps these behaviours are inner passions trying to make their way into the limelight?

You can watch the full TED Talk here.

2. Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are – Amy Cuddy, TEDGlobal 2012

Body language can affect the way in which we are perceived by other people, but it may also change the way we see ourselves. 

Cuddy, a social psychologist, argues that “power posing” – standing in a posture that oozes confidence, even when we don’t feel close to being confident – can boost feelings of, you guessed it, confidence. 

By changing our body language could we actually start to improve our chances of success?

Find out by watching the full TED Talk here.

3. What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness – Robert Waldinger, TEDxBeaconStreet 2015

What is it that triggers happiness in our lives, and what is it that keeps us going; keeps us healthy as we grow older? 

Fame and money are common answers for a lot of people, you’re not alone if you think that too but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re wrong. 

After directing a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unrivalled access to data on true happiness and where exactly we source our satisfaction for being alive.

In this talk, we hear about three important lessons that derive from Waldinger’s studies as well as some practical wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.

Watch the full TED Talk here. 

4.  How to Spot a Liar – Pamela Meyer, TEDGlobal 2011

Today, yesterday and most days in between you’ve been lied to. On any given day, people are lied to from 10 to 200 times.

Pamela Meyer suggests the clues to detect those lies can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Meyer, the author of the book ‘Lifespotting” shows the mannerisms and behaviours used by those trained to recognise deception.

Meyer is a firm believer that honesty is one of the most valued characteristics a person can have, a value that is worth preserving.

Find out how you can spot a liar here. 

5. Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator – Tim Urban, TED2016

Procrastination is something we’re all capable of. If there’s any former or current university students reading this, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about.

Tim Urban knows that procrastination makes little sense, but like many, he’s never quite been able to shake off the habit of leaving things until the last minute to get things done.

In this hilarious and insightful TED Talk, Urban projects a voyage through late night YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes and bouts of staring vacantly out of a window.

This talk encourages us to think harder about what we’re really procrastinating on because time always runs out.

The full talk is available to watch here. 

The post The Top 5 TED Talks That Will Change Your Life appeared first on TEDx Doncaster.

a motivational speaker can offer a fresh voice, clear mindset and a new way of doing things. The majority of motivational speakers come from unique backgrounds and have developed their abilities due to life experiences. Some have overcome life-threatening illnesses, others have witnessed war at its most gruesome and first-hand encounters of drug addiction.

When a motivational speaker steps out into the spotlight to share their story, audiences become captivated. When they get to relive accounts of tribulation or triumph, it inspires them to take on their own adversities that suffocate them in their own lives, whether that’s in the workplace or brought on by something like the passing of a loved one. by sharing a tale of atonement, people are spurred on to believe: “if you can do it, i can do it.”

What Roles Do Motivational Speakers Play?

The message that a motivational speaker intends to spread can often be tailored to a specific goal. Is it to increase sales numbers? lose weight? or maybe fight back against whatever oppresses you? Audience members may start to look for certain strategies to influence their own motivation, as well as the inspiring words reverberating around the hall.

By adopting new techniques, people are able to transform the way they think, and the way they approach their lives both at home, in a social environment and at work.

It can be difficult to maintain a positive outlook on life whilst you are surrounded by negative thinkers. This is particularly relevant in the workplace, where people have lost confidence in the direction of the company, and as a result lost confidence in their own abilities. A motivational speaker can rebuild that confidence. When people begin to tackle their fears, they start to find that they possess capability far beyond their initial expectations. A motivational speaker can encourage people to think, do and behave better as well as challenge their own ailments and fears in order to achieve goals.

Thinking of becoming a motivational speaker?

TEDx Doncaster provides a platform for unique and interesting people to share their story with the local community. If you, or someone you know, feels up to the challenge then don’t hesitate to contact us and get started on a new career in motivational speaking.

The post The Benefits of a Motivational Speaker appeared first on TEDx Doncaster.

Thinkers, innovators, doers and pioneers will come together to provide insight into the mind and life of people who are positively disrupting societal constructs and shaping the world for the better through their efforts.

You might be asking “what is a positive disruptor exactly?”.

If this is a new term to you, this article will explore the realms of a positive disruptor, who they are, what they do and the adaptations they make to the world around us.

What is a Positive Disruptor?

By definition, a positive disruptor is someone who challenges current organisational trends and habits and strives to find positive alternatives. A positive disruptor is someone who seeks to uproot, re-plant and grow the way we think, behave, conduct business, learn, understand and live our daily lives.

“Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat the door down.”

Throw the word disruptor around and people will likely assume that trouble will ensue. Traditionally, someone that disrupts does so with the intention of causing harm; so it’s easy to assume that there are negative associations with the term.

A positive disruptor is actually one of life’s luxuries, especially in an organisational sense. Here are some reasons why:

A Positive Disruptor Can Bring Life to an Organisation

A lot of businesses and corporations are founded upon processes that have been followed for decades. The phrase “if it’s broke don’t fix it.” comes to mind. Companies that struggle to adapt to change or acclimatise to new business trends will find it difficult to thrive as they once did. Bringing in an individual who strives to squeeze the most out of life and challenge outdated systems allows companies to breathe and escape from the chains of traditional business.

Seeking Out Closed Minds

As positive disruption spreads, there will always be certain individuals who don’t transition so easily into new ways of thinking. That’s just scratching the surface. When you delve deeper, you’ve got people who resist change like the plague – closed-minded people. Once that tree starts to shake, the closed-minded folk are easily identifiable and they tend to occupy leadership roles.

Raising the Proverbial Bar 

Positive change focuses on making the ultimate best even better. Reigning world champions in combat sports are at the top of their game and yet they are always seeking to improve their abilities. When staff members are looking at ways in which a company can improve, the employee gains a sense of accomplishment and the company garners the benefits from raising the bar even higher.

Encouraging Innovative Spirit 

Innovation stems from a mutual level of trust between all departments of an organisation. Those with leadership responsibilities must feel comfortable – not threatened – when positive disruptors attempt to change the existing fabrics that keep businesses in the dark ages. This allows new products to thrive and new markets to be explored. 

Conclusion

Someone who seeks positive change can appear in all aspects of life, not just business environments. To understand how a positive disruptor works in a day-to-day environment, attend the TEDx Doncaster event: Positive Disruptor; October 24th, 2021.

The post Everything You Need to Know About a Positive Disruptor appeared first on TEDx Doncaster.

The old saying goes “if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change”.

Perhaps, the answer to a lot of life’s troubles is to show a bit of self-love.

Compassion is a Medicine We Are Yet to Cultivate

People who have higher levels of self-compassion tend to have greater levels of motivation, feel less lazy or sluggish and are more successful over time. But the most important ingredient of self-care is people actually like themselves, even when they fail.

How can we harvest self-compassion? 

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding self-compassion is that it’s about lying to yourself. Thinking that it’s about drowning out the negative thoughts with positive ones. In a way it is, but it takes more than thinking about how good your hair looked this morning to really comprehend the sweet science of self-compassion.

To truly be self-compassionate, you must act upon thoughts that drive you to positively create a sense of psychological safety.

Doing this sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is.

You’ll need to create a space for yourself in which you are able to be confident in taking risks. If your reaction to not getting a new job is to beat yourself up and tell yourself you’re not good enough, this will likely inhibit you from taking further ventures in the future.

Someone who is self-compassionate can embark on risky opportunities without becoming swamped with overwhelming thoughts of failure. In short, self-compassion allows people to chase their dreams.

In a study that examined more than 70,000 people, it became evident that around one-third of the participants described their experiences and emotions as being “good” or “bad”, “positive” or “negative”. By looking at your life in a black-and-white way, you initiate an internal tug-of-war with yourself by putting yourself down.

How we judge each other

When we fall on hard times, emotions like sadness and disappointment become absorbent. Many of us react to this with judgement – “I shouldn’t be feeling this way. Why am I so negative.” This criticism, you don’t need.

A way to positively counteract negative judgement is to look at the ways in which negative emotions are taking a hold of you, the reasons behind them and what they are teaching you.

Try separating emotions from what they are and think of them as data. Taking this stance allows you to understand valuable information about who you are and what really defines your character. Through self-compassion, you can make a start in acknowledging and coming to terms with each of your feelings no matter how dismal or uplifting.

For instance, you may be feeling frustrated at work. So you ask yourself: ”Why am I frustrated? What are my feelings trying to tell me about my situation?”. By being self-compassionate and learning from your shortcomings, you can actively take yourself out of toxic environments and give you a foothold in striving for something better. The lesson here, be kinder to yourself.

For more wonderful ideas worth sharing, take a look at our TEDx Doncaster blog posts here.

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This project remains a solidified fragment of the Ghanaian government’s plan to recycle and reuse as much plastic waste as they produce in a year – around 1.1 million tons – by 2030.

India was the first country to initiate the plastic pollution combatant nearly two decades ago. Since then the world’s plastic problem has heightened enormously, leading other countries around the world to test and build plastic roads.

A growing number of studies suggest that plastic roads have the potential to perform as well or even better than traditional tarmac-paved roads. Not only do they last longer, they are stronger and have higher durability in terms of load-bearing. Roads containing plastic waste can withstand temperature developments and are more resistant to water damage, cracks and potholes.

Plastic roads have the potential to absorb hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic, almost in one night.

So why aren’t we seeing countries tear up their foundations, replacing traditional roads with plastic ones?

The process of creating plastic waste infused paving materials is likely to take time to evolve. Although widely used in India, countries throughout the world are only just getting to grips with this new technology.

In most countries, plastic roads have been in use for less than seven years. This means the data that tells us how plastic roads age is not there.

How do you develop a plastic road?

Organisations around the world adopt different approaches. But the general idea is that plastic waste is melted and mixed with other ingredients for developing road asphalt. Traditionally, asphalt contains 90-95 percent aggregate substance – gravel, sand or limestone –  and 5-10 percent bitumen, which is the black tar substance taken from crude oil and is used as a binding for the materials.

When waste plastics are added, they are said to provide a stronger bonding agent than bitumen. This often replaces 4-10 percent of the bitumen.

Is it dangerous for the environment?

A major concern surrounding plastic roads is the process of burning plastic and creating further carbon emissions. However, it is only necessary to heat waste plastics at 170 degrees Celsius which is in a safe range.

As plastics are heated, they turn from a solid to a liquid and finally gas. The gases become harmful as they start to reach 270 degrees Celsius, therefore the process of creating plastic roads is considered to be environmentally friendly.

For more ideas worth sharing, head over to TEDx Doncaster. Until then, remember to recycle your plastic waste.

The post Building Plastic Roads Could Solve Our Plastic Problem appeared first on TEDx Doncaster.

Pride gatherings stem from the onerous past of minority groups who have faced discrimination, prejudice and unprecedented hate. Pride is a home for those who choose to smile in the face of adversity, and through freedom of expression people from all walks of life are given the opportunity to feel accepted for who they are.

Who Celebrates Pride?

Pride events are catered towards anyone who feels like their sexual identity lies outside of the norm. Although straight people are welcomed with open arms too, there really is no limit to inclusivity.

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and is an acronym for those commonly associated with Pride festivals. This term can even be extended to LGBTQ and LGBTQIA,  which includes queer, intersex and asexual groups.

So How Did Pride Start?

Muffled music pounded through the brick and mortar of the Stonewall Inn – a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village – in the early hours of June 28, 1969. Of all things, it was the police task force that raided the bar that night that ignited the flame to fire up the Pride events we see today.

After years of unrest amongst the community and discrimination from law enforcement, the gay community decided enough was enough. That night, tensions flared quickly. Patrons fought back by throwing bottles and coins at the officers, arrests were resisted and a full-scale riot broke out into the New York neighbourhood over the next three days.

This uprising became a catalyst for a brewing gay rights movement as organisations such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance came to fruition. These movements took inspiration from the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement. Protests were held, political leaders became involved and public meetings were halted in order to hold certain politicians accountable.

A year later, the first Gay Pride marches took place.

The Stonewall inn remains a national monument to this day.

The Origin of the Name Pride

Brenda Howard, a bisexual New York activist – given the nickname ‘Mother of Pride’ – is credited as the first organiser of Pride. The event was held one year after the uprising in Greenwich Village to commemorate the events that transpired in 1969.

The Rainbow Flag

In 1978, a designer by the name of Gilbert Baker was commissioned by San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk to make a flag for the city’s Pride celebrations. Might I add, Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States.

Baker took inspiration from the stripes of the star-spangled banner. But, instead of the traditional blue and white; Baker chose to harness the colours of the rainbow to represent the many groups within the gay community.

Today, we have a variety of flags that represent different sexualities within the community, such as bisexual, asexual and pansexual.

If you liked this one, check out the rest of our blog posts here.

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Seeing the severity of the homeless problem in the media and in towns and cities across the United Kingdom isn’t enough to call us everyday people to action.

It’s easy for us to overlook homeless men and women that cross our paths day-to-day. Many of us rarely stop to find out that what they want, and what they need often goes beyond monetary value.

This article takes inspiration from Ed Kirwan’s TED Talk ‘The Simple Way Everyone Can Help the Homeless’.

We all have the power to make a difference and in very subtle and easy ways. TEDx Doncaster recognises the need for change amongst the local community, across the county and across the nation.

Here is how we can do our part.

How Can We Combat Homelessness?

We fail to realise how important our time is to another person. A greeting, a smile or even a look can be an illuminating factor in someone’s day.

Kirwan describes his encounter with a man named Richard, a tale that begins outside of an off-licence in Manchester. The exchange starts with the homeless man asking for money to buy a bottle of alcohol. As most of us would in this situation, Kirwan immediately labels the man as an alcoholic. However, when most of us would leave it there; Kirwan decides to venture a little further.

Two or three minutes into a conversation, Kirwan hears something that changes his perspective immediately. Richard explains how he would rather have someone sit with him for ten minutes than for someone to enter the shop and buy a bottle of vodka.

This is why it is vital for us to recognise how vital and how meaningful our time is to someone in a situation as dire as a person like Richard.

As a society, we struggle to acknowledge homeless people. We struggle to recognise their incredibly incomprehensible scenarios. We find it easier to focus on our mobiles rather than pay a moment’s notice to those who need it.

When we deal with difficult scenarios like the death of a close relative, for example; we often use humour to ease the pain and to help one another. When we deal with someone who is homeless we allow our guilt to consume us. We pass up the opportunity to comfort someone because we feel bad.

Why Do We Choose To Ignore The Issue?

There are three reasons why we choose to ignore homeless people we encounter in the street.

The first is that we find it hard. It’s natural for us to find it difficult to approach a stranger and engage with them, especially if that stranger is considered to look unpleasant, scary or have a bad odour. This does not mean that they should be considered as anything less than human.

The second reason is our judgement towards homelessness. This is part of our human instinct; to judge, to be aware of situations. For example, if we were out walking in the woods and we came across a bear, our judgment would tell us that this situation is dangerous. Although it is not to the same extent as life and death; we too judge people in the street. We allow ourselves to think it is okay to ignore homeless people and that we are doing the right thing by walking on.

The third and primary reason is guilt. This is the voice in our head that says “how can I interact with this person and then refuse to give them money?”. This is far from the case; our time is worth something. A single fragment of our lives can truly change someone’s day.

So What Can We Do?

We can be kind, we can acknowledge those that aren’t fortunate enough to have somewhere to rest their head at night. We can smile, we can say hello, we can let people know that they exist as a human being.

Talking to strangers is hard – guilt will always be a present factor; but you have the power to empower – to make a difference to someone’s day.

Ed Kirwan challenges all of us to do these simple things to eliminate the stigma surrounding homelessness. Acknowledge, smile, stay and chat if you have a while.

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