Metaphysical Musings #6 — Fear and Confusion and the Power of Perspective (Living in a Pandemic World)
The Backdrop
Long story short, it was the last month of 2019 the news about some new virus would easily get lost in the headlines. While some experts, scientists and medical practitioners may have been aware of the extent to which this new virus could impact humanity, most of us were relaxing and looking forward to a vastly different future.
Two months into 2020, and we were already dealing with one of the biggest challenges humanity has faced in decades. Our lives have changed in ways that were a remote possibility just a few months ago, more of the socio-economic and political issues have come to the fore and news channels are filled with the news of impending gloom and doom. People are thus facing a lot of mental and physical challenges as a result of these changes. While I am neither an illustrious writer, journalist, philosopher or a psychologist, I will just go on and pen down my way of dealing with this so far.
Persist ! — Don’t Subsist
A large part of our happiness is positively correlated with fulfilling social interactions, our physical health and, our work. Choose to look at this situation with a proactive lens, work hard enough in every task at hand, and if you keep at it, the will to live a meaningful life will fade in. It is not wrong to be aware of all the mishaps in the world, but it is of no use if it isn’t used to improve your world. It doesn’t matter where you are, there is always room for improvement.
Alone, I am Strong; Together, We Are Stronger
Believe, without invoking nebulous things like divine protection, I am sure that there are heroes out there working towards a vaccine, modeling disease dynamics, developing new equipment, writing code for the next big tech giant, training for the Olympics and what not. All these heroes are people are working towards the next big thing in their lives, they will be news when this is over and it is up to you to draw inspiration and connect to people from the right place and work on the next big thing in your life!
Taking Responsibility & Asking for Help
Some people were struggling to make ends meet before all of this happened, just think of the hopelessness and anguish that they are prone to in the midst of this crazy pandemic. As a fellow homo sapien who is not perfect, try to help the vulnerable ones if you can! Start with your family and see if anyone needs help, take responsibility and make sure that providing aid doesn’t make you arrogant. You are simply doing the smallest thing to ease out a frustrated system and it would be really embarrassing if you don’t do this. Feel free to do the reverse and avoid justifying your reluctance to seek help using pride and arrogance (this will only make you look immature). Again, it is important to discuss the situation with the impuissant ones, but try to back it up or come up with some workable solution.
Being Grateful
Not everyone has a roof on their head, an internet connection + associated gadgets, proper clothes and, consistent supply of food. These are basic needs of life and be grateful that you have that because you simply can’t persevere on an empty stomach and you are at a severe disadvantage if you lack internet (more than ever now). Make sure you don’t waste all this resourcefulness whiling away your time like it is nothing by watching the television all day (unless you are working on a related bigger goal) and doing nothing more than the bare minimum you need to subsist. (Sounds funny, right? Trust me, this is a serious issue.)
Track Your Progress
Try to have a tangible measurement of the success you get in your attempts towards your goal. Keep an eye on the failed attempts because they hold the answer to succeed in the next attempt.
Heuristic measures will also do. For example- If you feel happier, your will to live is getting stronger, you look forward to each day and you are making meaningful relationships, it is almost entirely confirmed that you are on the right track!
