5 Life Lessons in Times of Corona

As mankind slows down and retreats indoors, it is time to pay attention to the wisdom of life that gets obscured in the daily grind. The deep learnings emerging from this altered pace of life can leave us stronger, more confident and grounded for the time when we will step out into the world again. The COVID 19 pandemic has valuable life lessons to teach. Here are a few to ponder on.

LIFE IS PRECIOUS, CHERISH LIFE

Nature seems to be telling us to shift our focus back to Life, from the accessories of life. It is during such moments of existential crisis that we realize that life is precious and we should honor it. We tend to take life and all its grandeur for granted. This is a good time to contemplate on the essential questions of life like “who am I”, “what am I”, “what do I want”, “how long I am going to be on the planet”, etc. Have you planned what you want to do while you are on this planet? Turn your gaze inward and explore your life in a new light of gratitude and awareness.

WE ARE ONE HUMANITY 

The current situation has shown that there are no borders. People of every race, religion, political leanings and economic class are vulnerable to this virus. One affected person can impact another who is thousands of miles away. We are all deeply connected. Today it is obvious to all that if one part of the world is afflicted, the entire world suffers. The solutions to the pandemic through medical breakthroughs and preventive measures requires collective will and action on a global level. More than ever before one’s well being is dependent on others’ well-being. The pandemic is an opportunity for us to broaden our vision and see success not as a triumph over others, but as the empowerment of society as a whole. 

STOP EXPLOITING NATURE 

It's a loud wake-up call to change our ways, to rise above greed and exploitation of nature. Humanity is placing too many pressures on the natural world. Industries and leaders must realise that the well-being of humans is intricately connected with other living things and entire ecosystems. Taking care of nature means taking care of ourselves. The ancient cultures around the world knew this and honored Nature. It’s time to pause and wonder where we lost the way, and how we can still make a comeback to the attitudes and practices that have reverence for the planet, that treat people as sacred, and see God in Nature. This phase of life must teach us to live a life of less greed and consumerism, more compassion and more cooperation.

USE THE FREE TIME TO DEVELOP SKILLS 

Use the unexpected gift of free time to improve your skills. Scale-up yourself, in terms of domain knowledge, life skills, soft skills, etc. Work on improving your IQ, EQ and SQ. When you enrich your life in all aspects, you will have a rounded and more appealing personality. When all dimensions of your life blossom, your outlook and decision making become holistic and compassionate. There is no end to learning. Be it languages, music or musical instruments, learn something! Dedicate some of that free time to learn new languages, improve your culinary skills, or to learn music, painting or even dance etc. It will also help restore the missing work-life balance.

BE CREATIVE, BREAK THE MONOTONY

It’s time to get creative. To be creative, one needs a quiet place and to isolate oneself. Great thinkers, philosophers, writers and artists have often spoken about the role of solitude in shaping their greatness. That also explains why great works of the world have mostly come up in solitude. Science also now suggests that a certain amount of quality time alone is critical to the well-being, and certain things are better done without distractions, opinions, or influences of others. Use this phase of social distancing to temporarily slip into solitude and tap your creative instincts. 

Pursue your passions for which you never had the time before. This is a great time to use for self-development. When you shift gears and do something creative, it allows you to tap into your experiences in a new way and brings a great sense of contentment and peace. Be it listening to music and reading a book or writing, cooking, painting or learning a language, storytelling, do something different. I have been asking people to get out of the set patterns and do new things even if they are mundane. I even set a challenge for people to reverse their roles at home like asking men to cook for the entire family!

 And, Make it A Habit

To experience lasting wellness and true happiness, we need to quieten the chattering mind. So, develop this habit of silencing the mind during this period through meditation. And continue the habit even when the lockdown is over. From time to time, consciously take some time off to be with yourself and observe your own thoughts and emotions.

Share your insights 

During these unusual times, many of us are having new experiences and gaining new insights into life. I invite you to share your unique experiences and learnings here.