The Other Side of the Pandemic

Most conversations and articles about the Covid-19 pandemic are pretty somber in nature: we are astounded by the depressing statistics of the pandemic’s victims, bemoan new strains of the dangerous virus, worry about the effects this situation has on our local economies, complain about measures that we consider either too strict or too lenient, despise the stress and anxiety we feel about these and unknown future times, and skeptically scrutinize the motives of governments and big pharma in all of this.?

Yet, there’s no yin without yang, so why don’t we contemplate for a heartening moment on some good trends and developments the COVID-19 pandemic brought to our global community? How about this:

1. It expanded our horizons. Practices that were previously considered a non-option, such as allowing large groups of employees to work from home, have gradually become a new norm and will change the employment landscape forever.
2. We became more mindful of and respectful toward the fragility of life. All around, there is an increased focus on safety, not only for us and our immediate circle, but also for society at large.
3. We have come to experience and place less stigma on mental health, as many of us have become more forthcoming about our own stress and anxiety, and our desire to regain our inner balance. Before the pandemic, the quest for mental healing was either ignored or considered taboo by many.
4. We are rethinking the use of natural resources: In the past two years of the pandemic, so much real estate that was used for work purposes has become redundant and will possibly have to be repurposed in the near future. This reality has enhanced our sustainable awareness and practices.
5. Many of us commute less, which decreases the number of accidents we get exposed to and reduces air pollution as well as use of fossil fuels. As an example, satellite images from NASA and the European Space Agency have shown a significant reduction in nitrogen dioxide in China because of factory closures and fewer cars on the road.
6. Opportunities for learning are increasingly expanding. People don’t necessarily have to travel far to obtain education, because more and more institutions shift to online formats as a result of the safety measures recommended for protection against the virus.
7. We can now legitimately be in two places at the same time. “Attendance” has acquired new meaning: we are no longer required to be physically present at meetings and other formal events now that virtual presence is gaining more validity.
8. We have developed a clearer focus on our housemates. The pandemic disabled many of the distractive options that kept incompatible folks together. Having to spend more time at home has amplified our insights into what we like or dislike about those we cohabitate with, oftentimes leading to more deliberate choices.
9. Many of us have submitted to greater self-awareness. We have come to a better understanding of our impermanence, resulting in more conscious decisions about what we want for ourselves. Many have quit dreadful jobs in order to explore more fulfilling activities, and have thereby developed new standards, habits, and hobbies.
10. We have experienced a shift toward “smelling the flowers.” Literally. The long exposure to strict isolation has made us more appreciative about Mother Nature and her abundant gifts. Many of us have at least started to contemplate about exchanging the unfulfilling and anxiety-inducing rat-race for more conscious and organic living patterns.?

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Joan Marques , PhD, EdD, serves as Dean and Professor of Management at Woodbury University’s School of Business. She has been widely published in scholarly as well as practitioner-based journals, and has authored/co-authored and edited more than 35 books on management, leadership, and awareness based topics. Her most recent single-authored book is Leading with Awareness: A Roadmap for Awakened Leaders (Routledge, 2021).