About
"'The beatings will continue until morale improves’ is a famous quotation of unknown origin. It literally denotes how morale, such as within a military unit or other hierarchical environment, will be improved through the use of punishment. More importantly, the phrase is used sarcastically to indicate the counterproductive nature of such punishment or excessive control."
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The phrase "The beatings will continue until morale improves" has been one of those weird inside jokes that my family has repeated for as long as I can remember. It would be impossible to count the number of times that line was teasingly uttered while my brother and I were engaged in some frustrating chore or other mundane activity during our childhood. For most of my life, it was just another funny little thing that my father would jokingly say to us when we were unhappy about doing something that we found unpleasant.
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It wasn't until earlier in 2020, when I went through a particularly challenging emotional experience, that I started to think more critically about that strange phrase and its implications in my life. During this period, I had begun keeping a more detailed account of my thoughts and observations. Initially I started doing this just to pass the time, but eventually I found that when I sat down and actually wrote out what I was feeling, I was able to work through the difficult moments in a way that felt profoundly cathartic.
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We've all heard the saying "time heals all wounds." But what does one do while they wait for the time to pass (and the morale to improve)? Rather than self-flagellate, as the phrase suggests, I decided to lean into all of the emotions that I was experiencing, develop a sense of self-compassion for what I was going through, and do a deep dive into the realm of mental health and wellness (all while writing every step of the way). After a few months of this, I took a step back and realized that I had compiled a lengthly list of helpful resources along the way, and I wanted to share them with others. Thus, the idea for Until the Morale Improves was born.
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Until the Morale Improves is a collection of resources and personal essays about my experiences with mental and emotional health and wellness. My goal is to post at least one new essay a week, but I’ll keep adding to the lists of resources as often as I can. Much like the process of therapy itself, not everything on the site may resonate with you. Take what is helpful, and leave what isn’t.
With UTMI, I hope to deconstruct some of the stigma surrounding mental health and treatment. But also, if just one person finds a single sentence of this even somewhat relatable, then I’ll consider it a success.
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DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a licensed mental health professional, and I am not qualified to treat anyone suffering from any mental health condition. My goal is to provide resources for those who are interested in learning more or who would like to seek help.