Covid-19: Opportunities for Inner Reflection
Before the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, students who were about to graduate in a year or two held healthy thoughts of ushering into a robust economic world with numerous career opportunities for them to pursue. That dream landscape has evaporated for now as the markets around the globe suffer from the recession and economic downfall. The unemployment numbers are on the rise, many small scale companies have closed down, and several industries will never be the same. Coincidently, several surveys report that the pandemic-borne lockdown has spiked the anxiety levels in denizens, and several people are suffering from stress and anxiety. The picture portrayed above appears to be bleak, and it is indeed so to some extent. I do not want to be a bearer of bad news, but I am a firm believer in facing the truth head-on. Only then can we strive to look for the optimum solutions.
In my viewpoint, a stoic mindset could be the best solution for alleviating stress and taking on a more practical perspective to tackle life’s hurdles. The philosopher Epictetus’s tenet, ‘dichotomy of control,’ clearly states that there are things in our lives that are in our direct control, whereas we cannot control others. Of course, some things can affect our lives directly or indirectly. However, their effect on our lives is usually in our direct control. An immediate example is the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It is futile to stress our inability to go out during the lockdown or the havoc the pandemic is wreaking on the economy. Can you control any of this? No, you cannot. Then why are you feeling anxious? Instead, a more virtuous path would be to accept the things as they are and look for the possible ways in which you can enrich your life and build a better future for yourself and the community at large.
The pandemic brings about the perfect opportunity for inner reflection in your profession and personal lives. If you are in a field that has been gravely affected by the pandemic, perhaps it is the best time to switch gears and look into alternate career options or associated disciplines. If you are not in a position to make such a switch now, perhaps you ought to study the related impact your field has suffered and what options the pioneers in your area are looking at. The pandemic would have created alternate routes for improvement as well. Think about how you can assist in your field’s growth and the opportunities you can cash in to make a difference. Perhaps it is the best time to read philosophy and come to terms with your inner demons and the metaphysical reality in the personal domain. Become mentally tough. The human potential is immense. Be grateful for the life at hand and learn to lead a virtuous existence. Be compassionate to others, and strive to be consistent in your endeavors. My suggestion would be, to begin with, Marcus Aurelius’s ‘Meditations,’ John Sellars’s ‘Lessons in Stoicism,’ and Matthew Natta’s ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Stoicism.’ Remember, if the individual is healthy, the human society at large becomes stronger. If everyone had their acts together, the entire human race would be better off. You ought to help yourself first as you are your best friend. Become virtuous to lead the way for others. The opportunities will never cease to exist. Life will go on. Become sharp enough to grasp every possible chance of your development.
See the version published in ‘The Korea Times’ →
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/10/137_297662.html
