A note from 1907 Foundation co-founder and Chair: Adam Pieczonka
There are 80+ billion neurons in your brain. Each neuron is as complex as a city.
We’re physical beings. We see, we hear, we talk, we move. If it has mass and is visible to the naked eye, we consciously understand it.
Arms, legs, nose, throat, stomach, heart – no problem. If it’s broken, we fix it, or we pay someone to fix it. We have a good understanding of how to address the parts of our body that do not feel good.
But there is another system – one that cannot be “seen.”
We think, feel, and learn. Some of our thoughts and feelings are conscious and deliberate.
Some are automated by our history or our environment. And there’s an interplay between the physical and our feelings.
What we consume and how we feel. What we do and how we feel. Who we’re with and how we feel. Where we are and how we feel.
The brain is a physical organ much like any other, albeit a more complex one.
It is made of physical components and is physically connected to the rest of the body through the spinal cord with physical chemical and electrical signals operating between them.
Our societal decision to divide our “mental” health from our physical health has less to do with our underlying nature, and everything to do with our ability (thus far) to comprehend nature.
It is why research is essential; otherwise, we’re putting a band-aid on a broken bone.
As a society, addressing the stigma of mental health has been a leap forward. It has provided an avenue for those with real pain to discuss real issues. But stigma is not an end; it’s a beginning.
At 1907 Foundation, we are committed to steering the conversation towards one of resiliency and accountability.
Our mission is to celebrate people of strength – and the leaps and bounds that they overcome every single day.
Much of our health – including what’s “good” for us and what’s not good for us – is pure common sense.
Early to bed + a morning jog = a nice start to the day.
Late night at the bar + drinking excessively = anxiety + bedridden the next day.
While we don’t have control over every aspect of ourselves and our environment, we do have choices:
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How much we sleep
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What we eat
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Our fitness
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Our routines and habits
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When we use our phones
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Who we surround ourselves with
And because our brain is dependent on these physical choices, each of our overarching well-being relies on these choices.
It is irrational to expect mental well-being without caring for our physical well-being.
With a new month approaching, we encourage you to set a physical challenge, commit to it, and achieve it.
At the beginning of 2022 we launched an initiative that celebrates resiliency and effort – #MentallyTough – to minimise excuses and create accountability.
Since then our community has grown, inspiring more people to join the #mentallytough Champions and become #MentallyTough together.
Mental resilience is a journey that we are never done building towards. In much the same way, our physical health goals are a constant journey towards progress.
Whether you’re a runner, weight lifter, swimmer, biker, walker, yogi, or anything else you identify with our want to try, we encourage you to set a goal of your own, wherever you are, and join a community of Champions ready to support you.
You may just physically surprise yourself when you mentally commit. And no matter what, it will be good for your health.
Learn how to launch your own mission, see what others are achieving, and join in at 1907.foundation/mentally-tough.
