Before I get into it, I want to acknowledge this difficult time for millions of people around the globe. For those that are essential workers, frontline heroes, working more than prior to the pandemic, and personally affected or have loved ones affected by the virus…I send you my strength. A day hasn’t gone by where I haven’t sent a prayer to those that are risking and fighting for their lives right now. I apologize if I haven’t made it clear how seriously I am taking the current situation.
This article is for people, such as myself, that are in a similar situation of privilege and tremendous luck.
Such people have a responsibility to become the best versions of themselves. This is perhaps the best way for us to help during this crisis.
My following article applies to those who can relate to a combination of these points:
- retained employment
- same or reduced work hours
- flexibility of work hours
- friends and family physically unaffected by COVID-19
- comfortable, safe environment at home
- access to monetary government aid
There are basically 2 options right now if you are the reaper of good fortune:
- treat the pandemic as an enemy, or
- treat the pandemic as an opportunity.
The aspects that make the pandemic difficult to handle are all things out of our control. Dwelling on them serves little benefit in the short or long term.
There are things that we can control, such as realizing the positive circumstances that are coming out of this lockdown.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Victor Frankl
Usually, we pass up the challenge to change ourselves in order to stay focused on our career and keep our life together. All of a sudden, some of us have a lot of down time on our hands. The value proposition to deal with inner struggles has increased.
The benefit of self-reflection is a long-term one. Subconscious biases and assumptions often distort our perception of others and reality, creating suffering for ourselves and our loved ones throughout our entire life. We are all aware of this.
We may not realize that self-reflection right now is our best crack at creating positive outcomes for the people around us in a time of need.
There may not be another time where the opportunity cost of self-reflecting will be so low. Usually, the price would be high: boosting our CV, increasing financial wealth, or mastering a craft.
This is the beauty of the current situation: you have time to dive into your underlying assumptions and anxieties with very little price to pay. The benefits to yourself and the people around you can be unlocked during this crisis.
I challenge you to treat this pandemic for what it is (for those in a position to do so): a time where we can reflect on ourselves in order to address our emotional scars and wounds that we would have otherwise carried around for a lifetime, hurting our loved ones unknowingly along the way.
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