How to make peace with the Pandemic?

The threat of Covid-19 has affected all of us regardless of our nationality, location, gender, age, educational level, financial power, and social status. We are all experiencing the anxiety of an uncertain future in terms of health, wealth and occupational security. The world is changing fast as well as our daily routine and the processes we considered to be a constant in our lives. However, we are all equal facing this universal “invisible” threat. Many of us feel that we are in war time against an enemy that we can’t see without the help of a microscope. Hence, we need to be perpetually vigilant; and adopt a healthy sense of “paranoia” regarding the potential existence of the virus around us in order to protect ourselves.

In times of crisis and loss, individuals who derive a higher meaning or purpose associated with the challenging experience will experience lower levels of anxiety and depression. As a result, they are more likely to utilize their emotional and mental resources in a functional manner in order to cope with the loss/crisis. An example of coping with human loss and finding higher meaning is illustrated in the following true story. A 40-year-old father was losing his son to brain cancer in the early 90’s. He decided to create an NGO that would help young children living with cancer and their families. He believed that his son’s death had inspired him to help thousands of children experiencing similar health challenges and that his son’s spirit would live forever through his cause.

I would invite you to find your higher meaning in this gloomy situation. Identify the silver lining. The higher meaning will not eradicate the coronavirus, but it can help you feel safer and see possibilities that you could not see before. I witness individuals getting emotionally closer, neighbors helping each other and caring for people they had not even noticed prior to the health crisis. Parents are rediscovering their children; they see them throughout the whole day and recognize their needs, quirks, emotional expressions and their moments of brilliance. Additionally, parents have an opportunity to spend time with their children freed from the pressures of everyday life such as running to sport events, extracurricular classes, doctor’s appointments, or running errands. Life has become more wholesome and attention to the aspects of life that make it worth living are coming to the surface.

The silver lining of the covid-19 crisis can be unique for everyone. Yet, on a universal level we are all having the same wish. We all dream of the day where going out, traveling, hugging friends/loved once, traveling to magical destinations, being reunited with family members, and working will be safe again. When was the last time the whole world had the same wish? Even in times of war people are affected differently, or not at all. Nowadays, we awakened and appreciated all the elements of our lives that we despised or didn’t value enough. We have valued immensely all the activities that we enjoyed but didn’t take the time to register the magnitude of the pleasure we derived. We have come to appreciate the emotional/mental strength our loved ones, friends, or colleagues give us generously. The small grudges and what appeared to be insurmountable differences have faded as the true meaning of life is unveiled.

I believe that this universal crisis will change the world on a practical and emotional level. On a practical level, we will have adjusted to different ways of communicating and working. Working individuals may be working more days a week from home and spend more time with family; as the covid-19 quarantine will have taught us that we can be productive working from home. One an emotional level, this new work trend will reduce the high levels of anxiety and depression in children and working adults. Children will start feeling emotionally safe and experience significantly reduced mental issues when they grow up.

Furthermore, societies, communities and family ties will become stronger and tighter. Historically, humans were emotionally stable and balanced when they had emotional bonds with their neighbors and relied on the support of extended family members.

When we unite our unique strengths, abilities, skills, wisdom, expertise and good intentions, we can create greater results than anyone can achieve on his own devices. In order, to overcome this crisis we need to transfer our attention to the universal greater good. It would be beneficial if the world started thinking and acting as one whole system; a true global system. In this state of globalization, countries do not compete for resources but work together for the appropriate allocation and generation of necessary goods/services. Maybe becoming citizens of the world would be the most constructive and benevolent course of action that can save us currently and create a new state of the world once the crisis is over. I can imagine a world where we all share the same national identity of global citizens whilst maintaining our cultural identities. Covid-19 is forcing us to refocus our attention to what is important: Love, Care, Support, and Giving.

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