What does the phrase “keeping your head up” mean? Same as “keep your chin up.” 

We all go through tough situations in life. Maybe we had an argument with someone, or something bad happened at school or work. Maybe an illness or financial struggle. It’s tough, but it’s important to keep our spirits high. To stay positive, and look out for the good things in life. Otherwise we can get caught in the cycle of “things are bad and they’re just going to get worse.”

If you keep your head down, all you’re going to see is your feet and the ground (negativity). But if you keep your head up, what do you see? You might see a new opportunity, meet a new person, realize a new solution, discover a new chance. Don’t just look down in defeat, keep your head up and look for what’s next! 

It also has the nuance of “stay confident,” or “believe in yourself.” Not being prideful, but assured, or peaceful. Knowing that deep down inside, things are going to be alright.

Something bad may have happened, but don’t let that discourage you. Keep your head up and look forward to what’s still coming!

How often do you look at the ground, feeling defeated? Could that mean you might be focusing too much on the difficult things in life? 

Even during the hard times, there can be good things around us. Look around right now. What is something beautiful that you see? What is something good that you can be grateful for? Maybe it’s a person you’re lucky to live life with. Maybe you had a good meal today. Maybe you’re lucky to have a job. Even just one thing, can you look up and try to focus on that? 

I made a few mistakes at work this week, so I felt a little disappointed earlier in the day. I had a difficult conversation with someone that I wished ended on a better note. “I could have said this or that.” There are many things I wished I had done differently. Each and every week I could focus on my mistakes and fall into a state of “I shouldn’t have… I wish I didn’t… I failed again.” Of course, it’s important to learn from my failures and mistakes, and that’s how I can grow to get better. But it’s also very important to brush it off quickly, and move on quickly. I need to forgive myself quickly and focus on what’s next. “Next time, I’ll do and say this.” And that’s enough. I don’t need a whole guilt trip session, feeling sorry for myself will get me nowhere. It’s a waste of my time and energy. Instead, I try to learn from it, brush it off, keep my head up, and move on. 

I’m in a car witting this, driving from Niseko to Otaru for work. I can get easily car sick, especially looking on screen bouncing up and down on the road! In that sense it’s very vital for me to “keep my head up” and focus on where I’m headed; to stay physically well in this immediate sense! 

When I look up now, I see the white snow coating the top of trees, reminiscent of Christmas trees even now in March. I see a hint of blue skies breaking through the clouds, bringing color into the brown and white landscape. Hills and mountains are still covered in snow but already starting to melt, hinting at the change in season ahead. I see the stillness of the vast countryside here in Hokkaido. I see a sense of peace in the daily winter life, of snow on piled up on rooftops and little streams flowing through fields. Hawks soar over the skies. What beauty is all around us! 

I’d much rather focus on this peaceful scenery and enjoy the moment, than be full of regret for any mistakes I may have made this week. I hope we can all keep our head up, and keep moving forward. Everyone makes mistakes. But that shouldn’t bring us down or stop us. Let’s learn from it, keep our head up high, and keep going, keep living this life that God has for us. There is a reason we are here now, in this generation, in this country, in this season. Let’s not miss our purpose by looking down at our feet all the time! 

Let us know, what is a way you can “keep your head up” this season?
Which part stood out to you? What new English phrases did you pick up?