Resilience in a Challenging Time
It is truly remarkable how resilient people are when faced with difficult times. In the current environment, it is more important than ever before to stay resilient, stay positive and have the clarity on priorities in our personal life and business needs. Here are a few thoughts I would like to share.
Reflect on what is truly important
As human we always want to be more than ourselves, always want to do more than we can. The current crisis provides an opportunity for us to take the time to reflect on all aspects of our life on how we are spending our time, on the meaning of life, on what is truly important. Our ability to make an impact with our lives often depends on what we decide to prioritize. Likewise, the roles and responsibilities of business leaders have also dramatically changed in the past few months in terms of priorities. Once you are clear on your priorities, you’ll be able to make better and quicker decisions that guide your choices.
- Do what you know is right at a personal level. It can be through exercise, meditation, or spiritual practices. The simple practice of reading on a daily basis can transform you and have long lasting benefits.
- Your relationships are your source of happiness and purpose. In a crisis situation, none of us can do it alone. We need people to inspire us so that we can inspire others. We have lesser pains and regrets when we stay with the people we love or care about. Whether it’s family, friends, community, stand by them and take this opportunity to connect with them.
Face the adversity head on and find ways to persevere
It is often said that it’s not what happens to us but how we respond to what happens that makes all the difference in the end. Life is full of ups and downs with huge momentum shifts. This is just how life is, and adversity is a big part of that experience. However, adversity doesn’t need to be a negative experience.
In crisis situation, it is always important to differentiate between what we can control vs what we can’t have influence over. This is not the time to whine and complain about your situation. In fact, the waiting line for gratitude is much shorter than the line for complaint. This is the time to change your story and march on. This is your moment to do something meaningful, to stretch yourself, and to even act out of desperation to make things right.
Be part of the solution by performing civic duty
The best approach we have seen is for everyone to perform individual civic duty by following the recommendation or guidance from medical experts such as social distancing, working from home, and avoiding gathering. Your own behaviour or action is not only responsible for the safety and health of yourself and your family, but also everyone around you. We seem to be willing, somewhat, to do our part only on the brink of catastrophe, rather than willing to change our lifestyle to address tipping points to global crisis. In the end, it will not be the brilliance of scientists, but the collective efforts of everyone doing their part that the world will remember when it looks back at how this crisis was overcome.
Make this a learning moment
“It is only when the tides go out that you discover who’s been swimming naked.” Adversity does not build character; it reveals it. Likewise, pandemic will reveal character and leadership. By and large, human spirit rises up to stare down the crisis. We should all make this crisis as a teachable moment about the best of people.
This is not the first time and certainly not going to be the last time we face such global challenges. Just think about what difficult time meant for the generations before us who had to go through similar crisis or much worse. The only way for us to get out the current crisis is to come together and join hands. No matter how deep your struggles, no matter the challenges before you, there is sunshine over the mountaintop. And when you get to the other side – and you will – it will be glorious.
