Many people have not yet fully recovered from the trauma brought by the recession in 2008. I am one of them. And now there is another global recession, caused by the coronavirus crisis, according to International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, speaking before Financial Committee representing 189 countries. (Read more here.) It can be as bad or even worse than the last global recession.
Never in my life have I seen this -- that the normal activities have to stop like this, that the freedom of movements has to be limited like this, that people in the world unite against a common enemy which cannot be seen, nor the movement and 'behavior' be predicted accurately by AI (artificial intelligence).
Fears after fears eat most of us, particularly those living in foreign lands. Anxiety attacks are real and can be depressing.
When you are in your own country, you need not pay your rent as you have a roof over your head, your very own home, and you have to spend on basic survival needs and regular utility bills -- electricity, water and telephone/internet. The family members and relatives are within reach to support you when you run low of cash. You need not worry about visa expiry.
If you are an expatriate in a foreign country, you have to pay for your space rent. Most of us stay in shared accommodation as it is more practical to do so. Renting a flat or villa costs a fortune, which can be spent on basic survival or can be sent to the family. Even if you are just a wall away from your flatmate, he/she is not a brother/sister keeper so you are shy to ask for foods in case you do not have money anymore. You must know when your visa and passport expire to protect yourself as to the status of residence and travel.
In a turbulent period challenged by an epidemic that levels up to pandemic, many areas are put to lockdown status, for how long we do not know, and even after this is over, things will not be the same again.
After reading and viewing everything related to it by now, only one thing is clear: life is important, and those who survived it after a near-death experience will say the same thing. So it is always the basic survival, that gift to inhale and exhale the air which is everywhere and precious, and must not be polluted, that being gifted with those lungs that are the target of the unseen coronavirus to destroy -- matter. Life-preservation matters for ourselves and our beloved families.
You will hear stories that will break your heart. You will crave for things that you usually enjoyed to consume, to play and to experience. You will feel like a prisoner and you will want to scream. You will want to understand things but your brains cannot contain all, too foggy to process other information. The key is 100% acceptance that what is happening is part of the journey, and that you are not alone.
Meditate and be calm, so you can be focused on what to do next, on where to get the foods and drinks, and how to pay the bills later. If your employer requires you to work from home, and you will be given a salary, that is fine. If you are told that there will be some adjustments, say, reduction, in the salary, that is fine as well. Losing a job, terminating you and canceling your visa without a sure job after, when all flights are banned, can be unimaginable and will drive you crazy.
But worse comes to worst, practice imminent fasting if you do not have a medical issue, so your requirements for foods will be lesser. You will feel light as it is like a detoxification process. Fasting helps when you have to do the deep praying.
If you have no money anymore, just live day by day, so you will think of tomorrow only which is less heavy than the actual load. Think of how you can utilize your time, talents and skills to be traded for something to survive, either in cash and/or kind. Be more creative as what you can create in your mind, you can give life and value to it that will benefit you. Embrace minimalism and sell all the things you do not need anymore. This will also help you have less stuff for easy movement when it is necessary to go.
If your family members are demanding type and cannot understand you in critical times, and if other people humiliate or degrade you for having insufficient funds or lacking in resources, ignore the noises as they will not help you move forward. People will understand your pains when you have won your battles, but not when you are fighting hard for your life.
Monitor news and be wise enough to filter information. Do what the global and local health authorities advise, check what is happening in other parts of the world, and learn the lessons from how they handle similar scenarios.
Do not leave things to chance when you protect yourself. It is good to blend with others well, but these days when social distancing is a must, blend mentally and spiritually, not physically with them. Care not about what they say if you avoid social gatherings, even indoor. The government takes draconian measures to contain coronavirus, so the best thing you can do is to apply it at your own smaller circle. It will also save you from hefty fines or penalties for rule violators.
Have fun and do not stress yourself. It does not mean that you are not taking the issue seriously, but it helps you protect your mental health. Have fun in creating something, finishing a task you have not done before, getting in touch with your family members via video platform, writing a journal about your lockdown experiences, doing indoor exercises, making your room beautiful through DIY interior design arrangement by reusing/recycling things, etc.
There are many free e-books and online courses so read more and learn more. These will make you a better and stronger person than before.
Passionately move up beyond the physical realm, connect with your soul and Creator, pray, and resolve to survive. Our ancestors survived some lockdowns as well as World War I and II. Sing "I will survive" and surely you will, we will.
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Photo credits: Pixabay
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