Life- Dil Se- Post 1

Corona in a Zoo

During this lockdown period, I had the time to think on what we can do to prepare ourselves for Post-Covid world, and a Zoo came to my mind.

In a zoo, we usually see wildlife from outside the cage or a barrier and admire them. It is the other way around now. We are the ones inside the cage and Mr./Mrs. Corona is testing us instead of admiring us. We are being told to be inside this barrier and do our best inside, while the one testing us leaves this Zoo. Uncertainty is in the time frame when this visitor wants to leave.

This metaphor makes us realise and empathise the state of mind of those who are trapped within a barrier or have to spend their lives with a limitation to overcome. It can be anything- it can be a physical one, a psychological one or an emotional one. Hence it’s the best time to understand each of ours’s areas to improve upon and work on it or help others work with it.

Understanding and categorising these barriers in right category is the first step so that there is no confusion about what we are facing .

Up-skilling ourselves to be able to face this barrier is the second step. We can up skill ourselves in various ways which I will discuss in coming paragraphs.

Being pro-active and perceiving challenges, without being negative is also required at this time.

Let us therefore talk about these Barriers, Up-skilling and Being Pro-active and discuss among ourselves in days to come furthermore on this, to be able to gain insights.

My purpose of this topic is to start a conversation and getting solutions among us, rather than giving a solution. I am very clear that solution lies within us.

Barriers We have -

Categorize our challenges in below headings-

• Financial- (Job challenges, lost a job, less earnings than required, Debts etc.)

• Time Management (Weak relationships, Mis management at work due to unorganized working methods etc.…)

• Health

• Low Self Esteem (Unable to see our purpose or unable to see way forward)

• Self-Management issues (Emotionally unbalanced, Anger management issues etc.)

Up-Skill -

• By reflecting and discussing with someone you trust or HERE! We are always there to converse and reflect.

• Deciding to do a part time management (or any) course based on your challenge. It could be a course on emotional intelligence, it could be a life coaching. There are too many resources available to help ourselves We just need to look out for them. Happy to share some resources once we start this conversation.

• Deciding to have a routine which has discipline and more control. Starting with a simple habit of promising ourselves to not touch our mobile phone for first 30 mins, when we get up in morning.

• Going for short master classes and webinars and finding coaches to provide you help with self- management issues. We can get a lot of free webinars to explore and get a direction.

• Having a Fitness trainer. I can promise that having 3-4 fitness sessions in a week will make wonders in your life. Not just for health but way beyond it.

Being Pro- Active -

• We have a tendency of overestimating the problem and underestimating ourselves. Let us remember this and answer two questions to ourselves at any point of challenge- 1. What can I do about it? 2. What is good about this?

• Once we answer above, write down 5 points in each. Not more than 5 points as we do not want to go out or subject. In fact I am happy with 3 points if you can make it compact.

• Forgive and forget what has happened to be able to understand current challenge. If we keep living in past, we won’t be able to look forward. All solution lies in future. All learnings are available in past. Destiny depends on our actions as a result of our learnings and deciding to work upon them.

• Make a plan, upskill yourself and move forward.

Making ourselves emotionally balanced can be a huge achievement in this period. Emotionally balanced people always perform better in difficult times. They are able to respond instead of reacting.

Being on other side of zoo at present, it is on us to respond strongly and emerge as a winner in post-covid world. This is a golden opportunity to learn, build teams, make plans, strengthen our relationships, get emotionally balanced and of course upskill ourselves.

Paste below mind chart on your wall and start reflecting. Start conversing.

Be a poet if you wanted to be. Start writing.

Be a blogger, Lear music, Start writing articles that can inspire others, Start helping people if that makes you happy, Reach out to people who need us at this time.

Finishing off this with Gulzar’s beautiful lines, apt for this time:-

ज़िन्दगी ये तेरी खरोंचे हैं मुझ पर

या फिर तू मुझे तराशने की कोशिश में है।

Warm wishes and good vibes always,

Yours NK