We all agree on the fast paced changes happening in the world, initiated by the outburst of Covid-19 pandemic, the changes are affecting organisations, systems , trends as well as human behaviors. one thing we know for sure, The World we grew up in is not going to be the same again , and fortunately we are walking into a new Age , a NEW ERA…
If a disease can teach wisdom beyond our understanding of how precarious and precious life is , the virus has offered us too many lessons:
1. We are all connected
Our lives are so intertwined that the idea of viewing ourselves as islands- whether as individuals , communities, nations or a uniquely privileged species- should be understood as false consciousness. In truth, we were always bound together, part of miraculous web of life on this planet and beyond it.. and it took a virus to show us that only together we are at our strongest, most alive and most human.
2. To Count our Blessings
Experiencing quarantine and all the limitations and measures implemented by different countries, feeling restricted for few months , unable to practice the simplest acts that we used to in the past like : a walk in the park, having coffee with a friend , or even visiting or hugging a loved one, was too much to digest by our egoistic self, but at the same time a great wake up call to our entitlement behavior, it did made us review and evaluate the little things that we used to take for granted, iit invited us to look at life through the eye of a grateful heart.
3. The Importance of Mental Health
In the absence of all the distractions, work , travels , activities , sports, outing …etc , we were faced with all the emotions we have been suppressing and not willing to look at, social isolation is something that can be a marker of mental health issues, but we need to dig deeper and determine whether it is a by-product of distancing, or an avoidance of other people through platforms that are available. During this time, allowing yourself to experience natural emotions without judging them is the most powerful gift you can give yourself, in addition to finding comfort in spending time in your company not needing to use any substance or addiction to distract yourself.
4. To Bid Farewell to Rigidity and Embrace Flexibility
The Pandemic forced organization to think outside the box, to implement easy ways of managing their work, there was an accelerated focus on developing the technology infrastructure that can support the “working from home” strategy. This vast remote-work experiment is also a great opportunity to prepare for the future — when automation has expanded the role of knowledge workers and the preferences of younger generations demand that organizations provide remote-work options.
Considering here some data from recent Gartner research:
- By 2030, the demand for remote work will increase by 30% due to Generation Z fully entering the workforce.
- 64% of today’s professionals say they could work anywhere and remote work policies are common (in place at 71% of organizations).
“Remote-work success depends heavily on whether employers trust their employees to do their work even if you can’t see them”.
Adding to this, the massive move to online is forcing the education system to figure out how to drive engagement at scale in their courses, the coronavirus is forcing educators to revolutionize the way they teach, moving from a lecture-listen model to an interactive, learn-by-doing model. While traditional, on-campus learning will inevitably return to prominence once the coronavirus abates, universities can use this crisis as an opportunity to learn more about new digital tools and how to best leverage them.
This switch to online is something that students are also demanding. In a student survey 58% of respondents expressed some interest in studying their degree online due to coronavirus restrictions, while only 43% stated that they had no interest in studying online. Additionally, 51% of prospective international students surveyed said that they expect universities to move more of their lectures online.
With students needing strong online educational offerings and universities quickly embracing new tools and platforms, online learning during the coronavirus outbreak will rapidly develop.
5. A Return to your Soul
The Soul is the most intimate part of you, and it isn’t found by running away. In a time of crisis, the impluse is to go into emergency mode, fear, concern and panic . Giving in to those impulses will engender an epidemic of soul sickness. instead, try an act of kindness today, show appreciation to someone, offer help to those in need, or bring comfort to someone feeling lonely and anxious — the simple human gestures we tend to overlook. you can improve the state of your soul in the following ways:
- Having a sense of meaning and purpose.
- Loving and being loved.
- Self-esteem, a sense of your own worth.
- Tapping into inner peace and joy.
- Being of service to others.
- Generosity of spirit.
At the end, As we collectively grapple with this threat to our well-being, let us each embrace the crisis as an opportunity to embark on a journey of spiritual growth of re-committing ourselves to treating everyone with equality and dignity , of celebrating the greatness, creativity and tenacy of the human spirit; of humbly accepting our vulnerability , reversing fear and anxiety by practicing gratitude, showing kindness, and vibrating love.