“This shall pass too”

“This shall pass too” – By Willie Snyman

This phrase comes from an old Persian text created by poets in the medieval period. The story resolved around a fable about a Persian king where his citizens made him a ring to make him happy when he was sad. The inscription on the ring was “This too shall pass”. But it also acted as a curse when he was happy.

Nothing is permanent. Life is an ebb of ups and downs. We seek permanence, but there is none. What we need to realise again and remember again, is that regular change is the constant of our existence.

The Coronavirus reminds us of life’s realities. The realities of joy and pain. Saying this we now see another stock market crash, job losses, deaths of loved ones. Based on history, mankind has dealt with extreme difficulties and will again. When red flags are coming up, appropriate action needs to be taken.

Any crisis brings with it learning, a halt back to reality, a wake-up call. And by now we know, it is not what happens to us, but how we deal with it. Crisis brings opportunities. And we need to focus what is in our control. Rise above the occasion, do not be the victim.

Living with the current reality:

1. Acknowledge the facts, not the perceptions. See things in perspective. This is not the end of the world. Based on history, “this shall pass too”. Accept the reality of change.
2. Assess again what is important to you. Take stock. Be calm, staying in stress mode will bring you nowhere, the reality is what it is.
3. Re-plan your year. This will include a relook at finances, planning of holidays, relook at customer behavior, relook at time spend and the possibility of being at home for a few weeks or in a hospital. A re-look at relationships. Planning is pro-active and leads to calm and confidence.
4. Be realistic. Adapt to the circumstances. Based on history, forecast an outcome on a timeline you can belief in. Life is not stopping. The current scenario is temporary. Stock markets recover, businesses get back to shape. People travel again and we need to eat and drink every day regardless!
5. Get support and be supportive. You are not alone in this. Engage, communicate. It is a time for communities to stand together. Process your feelings, getting stuck is a waste of time. You have only this one life.
6. See the seeds of opportunity in the reality. Take care of yourself.

It includes:

1. 1. Your body: Enough sleep, correct diet, exercise. Kill unnecessary stress with a healthier lifestyle
   2. Your mind: Be calm, meditate, read good books, watching uplifting movies.
   3. Your relationships: More time with family and friends, less rush at home, getting in touch with each other again
   4. New thinking, new habits: About everything. What is important to you, what are you going to do differently? What healthy changes are you going to implement?
   5. Being grateful: The list is long, the moment you start thinking about it!

One day you will look back at 2020 and reap the rewards of your implemented changes or cry about the misery of having done nothing.

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 – 1964), the first Indian prime minister said: “Crisis and deadlocks have at least this advantage, that they force us to think. Failure comes only when we forget our ideals and objectives and principles”