Mental stress comes into the picture more often when we have to do things that we actually do not like to do
As the world prepares to limp back to normal and people start getting back gradually and in phases to their business and work, the million dollar question everybody would be asking each other is; what has this Covid-19 crisis changed in their behaviour and approach towards people and work? Is there anything that’s going to dramatically change with regard to people’s behaviour and their approach towards job and business?
While it’s easy to comprehend that people would generally be more likely to treat each other with empathy and care, especially the wealthy towards the less privileged, and youngsters towards their elders at home or outside, another matter that interestingly should be monitored is how the smaller and larger companies would be redesigning their engagement contracts with their employees and vendors. During this pandemic induced crisis, many companies have renegotiated salaries with their employees, or have mutually agreed to cut a certain percentage for a few months, to ride through the cash flow problems created by loss of revenue.
Many tech-enabled service companies who have thousands of employees on payroll have been forced to ask people to go, as they could not sustain bearing the expenses of so many employees for more than a couple of months. There have been a few silver linings too, where companies have remained solidly behind their employees, and have even gone in for increment in salary during the crisis, conveying a message that the employees are valued and are a part of their family.
But, generally speaking, the relationship between employer and employee would be one delicate matter as there could still be many uncertainties surrounding the business, depending upon the industry sector and nature of business. Questions have been floating around in social media chats and opinions, if this crisis would ignite entrepreneurship. Many answers actually lie with the way the government and financial institutions come out in support of industry and businesses, both large and small. Survival of many companies in the small and medium sector would be dependent on how the banking system supports them to swim through the crisis.
No answers are final, and no answer is carved in stone. What can people do to change their outlook towards the world, and how much could they introspect into their lives, their needs, wants, and desires to alter their own way of living, to become frugal and less materialistic? The answers are not simple and easy, and while some may go back to living their lives just the way they lived like nothing changed, some may definitely ponder if chasing money, wealth, and luxury, and the shallow sense of pride and happiness that the materialistic acquisitions and achievement provide for a short period of time is actually worth it.
I believe the answer lies in reengineering of our mind and body to become more adept at identifying and choosing the right vocation for us. This would in turn be more soothing to our soul as well.
When one chooses the right kind of work to be in, based on their knowledge, skills, experience, and ambition, chances are that the person would try to create a balance between life and work, and would only undertake an assignment that satisfies their own self first, before satisfying the client as well. The imbalance starts happening when people start chasing wealth more than what they want, and start consuming more than what is needed, in terms of food and material wealth. Most of these ornamental accessories are not to please our own self, but are actually intended to influence and impress others. Mental stress comes into the picture more often when we have to do things that we actually do not like to do.
One important takeaway of this crisis is to donate to the less privileged, or to engage in charity work, or to contribute to building a harmonious society. This is the right Dharma, that is conforming to the basic principle of nature that guides us human beings. Such societal work also builds our nation and provides the world with enlightenment and examples for future generations to follow.
Even the wealthy nations have had to suffer during this crisis and unemployment is on a rise in almost all countries, rich or poor. In many of the underdeveloped and emerging nations, the government could actually do little, except for providing the vital healthcare and taking policy decisions to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, and it’s the humble and gifted citizen who had to come out to become the real saviour, whether to provide food, or to provide and arrange for transportation of the less privileged so that they could return home to their villages from their places of work in big cities. Things that actually were immediately needed by the poor suffering with loss of their livelihood, were actually provided by people who had the resources and the will to act.
It’s only when one starts chasing wealth and luxury beyond their needs that exploitation starts, and the difference between rich and poor widens. When we engage ourselves in the re-engineering of our mind and body, we cleanse our soul to see the world in a different light. When we start meditating and doing Yoga, we try to find peace through energising our body organs and thereby improving our metabolism through breathing. Meditation is a simple technique to become more aware and more in tune with nature through mindfulness or concentrating, and focusing our mind on a particular thought. When we are more aware, we are more balanced, and we are able to efficiently handle any situation with a calm and cool manner. We become emotionally balanced, too.
Benefits of Yoga do not need any description. It relaxes our mind and body through correct breathing and exercise technique, that touches every organ and stimulates our body system to function smoother and better.
A calm mind always handles a challenge better and more efficiently. What can happen in the ecosystem that we live in is not entirely in our control. Some of these may be controlled by the laws, and rules & regulations formed by the government. What can happen in our workplace is an outcome of the exchange of thoughts and emotions to a situation, and this may partly be in our control. A true leader is one who not only delegates well but also brings out the best from each member of the team towards finding the best and optimal solution to the given problem or challenge.
When we practice the inner healing and re-engineering of our mind and body, we become a better version of ourselves, one who is not easily provoked, one who finds solution to a problem without cursing and blaming others, and one who encourages others to be happy. A nurturing mind creates a healthier future for our children, and this is what I believe is the need of the hour. We have to support and nurture each other to tide over any small and big problem that might come our way.
The technique of inner re-engineering helps us create a balance between our Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), and Spiritual Quotient (SQ), which are also needed for us to be healthier and successful in life.
