Once I started writing something related to Covid-19, it seems that the only thoughts that come to me are related to the situation we are all facing these days. I wrote about how we can look at this new Coronavirus and the lessons to learn from this occurrence and then I wrote about how we may benefit to understand how humans have an innate potential to be compassionate and how we could leverage that capability in this time of need.

Today, as I sit to write about something, my thoughts go towards the various ways in which different individuals are reacting to this crisis situation. What I want to therefore detail are these different ways and how one can rise to the higher level – a level that leads to compassionate creation and widespread wellness.

Different Folks with Different Strokes

The Victim

If you are thinking about how the lockdown has caused you great discomfort and worrying about the manner in which this situation will affect your financial health, you are operating from a victim stand point. This is the level of thinking that involves apathy, indifference, and selfishness. All you can think about is the kind of issues that you are facing or are likely to face due to the Covid-19 crisis. This kind of thinking is a losing situation for all. Not only are you completely useless in such a crisis, you are also harming yourself by taking this stance and limiting yourself with beliefs of helplessness and frustration.

Conflict Seeker

Those of you who are feeling angry at the situation and blaming anyone that you can find are basically seeking conflict. It does not matter who the opposing party is. It could be the government for locking down the country, the Chinese people for starting a crisis like this, the companies for closing offices, the local government bodies for not managing the lockdown properly, the doctors for not treating people faster or the scientists for not finding a miracle cure! Such a mindset induces anger, defiance and it targeted towards making someone pay for the situation (even if it is in your own mind). While you think that blaming the other holds them responsible for the situation, the fact is that you lose too, because of the resentment and anger that fills you up. No new thoughts, creative ideas of productive efforts will emanate from a land that is so caustic!

The Responsible One

Ah, now you think this is a good one. A responsible person is a good one and this is what you should aim at. Hold one a while! A responsible person forgives and co-operates and this is definitely a great place to be for yourself. It is a space in your head where you are willing to cooperate with others and work towards a more productive arena for yourself. You definitely win! But this is a space where you have yet not embraced the crisis and understood that it is something that we are all facing together. You are concerned about your positive state of mind and therefore are smart enough to not get angry or become a victim.

The Concerned

Those who are feeling compassionate towards the thousands of people who are suffering from the disease and have an active will to play their part in serving others are at a stage where they empathize with what is happening around the world. This is a stage where you are compassionate, willing to serve and know that this will help others. While it seems like a purely altruistic frame of mind, the concerned person also wins! Various studies have shown that compassion leads to long lasting happiness.

The Reconciliatory One

When you reach a level where there is total acceptance of the situation in addition to empathy and inner peace, you can be sure that you are at a win-win situation that has great potential. Not only will you be able to view this occurrence as a moment in time (that will pass), you will be able to do so with calmness, compassion and durability.

The Synthesizer

This is the stage that has the potential of the inner peace transcending to inner joy; acceptance that can move towards a greater synthesis of innate wisdom. If you are at this stage, you will be able to delve into the meaning that lies behind this challenge that the universe has thrown at us! This is a mental framework of oneness. While doing your bit towards the society, you are able to view the events of 2020 and the covid-19 situation with a higher sense purpose. You are at least able to understand that you may not have all the answers to these events and yet you are willing to look further into why this is happening (further than allegations about a conspiracy by the Chinese, the Pharma sector or whodunits)!

The Non-Judgmental One 

My favorite and highest stage of thinking involves all the positive traits mentioned before. It includes forgiveness, cooperation, compassion, inner peace, acceptance, inner joy, innate wisdom, oneness and more. When you reach the perfect state of non-judgment, you are made of raw passion and are able to fill yourself with such creative energy and positive intention that you can arrive at solutions that will save the world – one way or another! This is the mindset today of (probably) the crazy scientists who are working relentlessly towards finding a cure. Those who are not blaming, nor judging, nor questioning, or pointing fingers but focused on their ‘dharma’. And perhaps, the mindset of people working relentlessly in hospitals without stopping for a second to worry about their own safety and security. And then again, a mindset of those who are creating new and innovative ways of helping humanity in this crisis.

So, where did you find yourself among the above-mentioned characters?

Are you happy with where you are? Want to move one-step ahead and then again another?

Covid-19 has given us enough opportunity to look inside ourselves and work on this one thing that matters – your soul!