5 Simple Steps to Beat the Corona Blues

We are seeing a massive calamity unfold and witnessing tragedy after tragedy. Every person I know seems to have some close friend or relative who is covid positive or in hospital or worse, passed away. If you are feeling fearful, upset, sad or even angry, it is perfectly understandable. In such a situation, how does one keep one’s sanity, stay cheerful and actually become a cheer giver, radiating positivity?

It will be easier for some than for others because we are all made differently. We are also fighting at varying levels in this battle. But by and far, it is possible for all of us to move up this scale of positivity and become cheer-givers instead of cheer-stoppers. Let me try and share with you the formula I developed for myself when life hit me like an express train — again and again and again, and I had to rebuild my life and my dreams multiple times.

1. I feel extremely grateful for all that I have and I feel very happy. This is in spite of the fact that my four limbs are only 70–80% functional and that I have had about ten fractures in the last 8 years. I feel grateful for everything around me — for my education, my home, my support system, for all the things I can still do and feel happy, instead of feeling bad for what I cannot do. Every day, I try and recount to myself a few aspects of my life that I am grateful for. I focus on the feeling of happiness I get when I do this. I also get in touch with people who have supported me in the past and thank them profusely. Needless to say, I thank people with an open heart for even the smallest support they extend for me. This makes me conscious of the fact that there are so many people who are there for me. Result? Happiness. 

2. The other side of gratitude is compassion. My change from being fairly focused on my career to being there any time for supporting others happened only after I was afflicted by a crippling disorder. When I realised just how many people are willing to help me, and how much of a difference it makes in my life, I started focusing on how I could in turn help others. Initially it started with supporting those who reached out to me. Now I seek out others to support. I speak to people who I know are going through difficulties. If anyone approaches me for help, I find the time to help them: leveraging my network, donating money, offering a shoulder to cry on etc. Compassion makes one enormously happy. 

3. I focus on positive action. When my body was at its worst — unable to hold anything in my hands, unable to stand without support, tripping and falling regularly — what helped me was looking at solutions and working on doing stuff that pushed me in the right direction and also kept me busy. Positive action kept me from a downward spiral of ‘why me’. Today, the positive action has taken on a different meaning. Today my actions are to add maximum value to others leveraging my strengths. Others include people I know, people I barely know, people I don’t know and the general public. My strengths which I am currently leveraging are curiosity, love for science, ability to forge strong relationships, my strong connections with hospitals (yes, I do count this otherwise negative aspect as a big plus in today’s circumstances) and compassion: these have helped me play a big role in the pandemic response and healthcare work at Azim Premji Foundation as we help make the lives of millions better and also save tens of thousands of lives through our work. So sit back and think what are the 2-3 things you can do leveraging your strengths to support people in distress. You will feel positive, charged-up and happy. 

Summarising — to kick the COVID blues and feel positive, charged-up and happy, do the following.

1. Think of all the good things you have including the mundane things you don’t even notice and let the feeling of gratitude wash over you
2. Respond to even small helpful gestures with a heartfelt thanks. Also, speak to people who have supported you in the past and thank them profusely. 
3. Help whoever reaches out to you. Reach out to people and help them. 
4. Assess your strengths and your passion. Assess what is happening around you in today’s situation. See which of your strengths you can bring to bear to help others (known people, barely known people, society). Act decisively to make that happen. 
5. Oh! And by the way, the most important one: try and smile. As much as possible!!