Reality check and the time that is now…

May you live in interesting times, that Chinese saying always fascinated me. In context of a situation relevant to the Chinese, it reminded me of what an absolutely VUCA – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world we live in and this time, it’s a virus in question. Life and the economy have come to a grinding halt… 

There is so much of chatter and news and pieces of information thrown at us and so much expected in terms of what needs to be done to curb and nip this in the bud to contain damage and to stop the spread. 

You hear scary stories from everywhere and you hear the numbers too. Panic and fear have so far been the most common and the strongest reactions that I have observed. But is that what this situation needs?

I am just putting together here what I have chosen to imbibe and learn in the process and hope this helps you as well to process what is going on and to navigate through these tough times. 

• Be aware
• Make sure you stay connected to the right pieces of information that is coming from verified authentic sources so you can rely on what they are saying and leverage this awareness to educate others around you.
• What you consume as news and believe to be true is who you are
• With such a situation at hand, there are enough pieces of information out there that are fabricated and doing the rounds so ensure you aren’t consuming and spreading false information or fake news.
• Fear brings you down
• Fear and panic are illogical and can lead to low immunity and rash decision making. Use logic and pragmatism to deal with the situation at hand.
• Idiocy gets you nowhere
• Social distancing can make a drastic change to the spread of the virus and is being implemented with a reason. Stick to the framework of rules and stay safe.
• Stupidity gets you in trouble
• Do not ignore symptoms of any kind and ensure to get yourself tested. Put yourself in self quarantine in case of any doubt.
• Empathy and compassion are paramount
• Its not just us, there are a lot of people at risk and we must be empathetic and compassionate with everyone in the situation we are in.
• Humour can be cathartic
• There’s always joy in humour, its good to look at the brighter side of things and make light of such situations and look for the silver lining.
• Respect for the planet
• This is a reminder to us that we cannot take the planet for granted, there will be more such situations as the future unfolds, so its time to wake up and do something as a mass collective to make the planet a better place.
• The uncertainty of life
• Life is unpredictable and anything can happen. It’s good to be prepared and while here, it’s good to do your bit to make it better.
• Make the most of the unexpected time
• Now we have time on our hands, let’s use it judiciously and wisely and let’s start making efforts to help the transition back into normal life easier…
• There is a lot of clutter out there, but this piece is also a little more than just the current scenario and is relevant for a much larger spectrum of life moments.
• Hang in there, stay careful and stay safe…

The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

Shreya Krishnan

Vice President - Marketing and Communications at Aon India Insurance Brokers

Shreya is a CSR Specialist and Corporate Grooming Consultant. Her interests lie in Activism, Dance, Theatre, Poetry, Blogging, Modelling, Acting. She considers herself an Earth Warrior and is an Event Anchor and Trainer. She is a Pageant Winner and public speaker.