5 Key Takeaways from Corona Times
Every crisis has its opportunities.
Time flies, already a couple of weeks in lockdown, but there is light on the horizon. Shops have reopened or are about to do so. Slowly we get back our lives. Soon we will stop licking our wounds (except the economic ones that will take a bit longer) and eventually fall back into old patterns. In such a scenario, we will have missed out on a unique momentum. If we truly want, we can realize some change for the better from this global mess. It all depends on each of us.
1. We are all interconnected
Most of us have never seen a global phenomenon of such a scale before. WW2 (a real catastrophe) or the oil shortages of the early ’70s are too far away. Chernobyl or Fukushima was devastating but regional. All were also different. Whenever we saw a major crisis of any humanitarian or environmental kind in the past, it was probably on TV. Quickly we switched to some lighter entertainment.
In the last years, this harmonious environment in Europe and partially the US was disturbed by refugees. Some made it to our borders, others even to our doorsteps. No one made it into our homes. Only COVID-19 can claim such an achievement, an invisible danger that at least psychologically affected everyone. No remote control possible.
Within a short period, it found its way to every nook and cranny in this world. Thanks to its virulence and the global transportation networks. We are not living on an isolated island, but rather in a highly interconnected global system (not to be confused with economic globalization). The butterfly effect stroked. It is an illusion to believe that by closing the border or by producing fake news, a challenge of such a global scale goes away. Today, it is a coronavirus, but tomorrow it could be climate change, just deadlier (because more sneaky and less treatable).
Only a global mindset and collaboration (no nationalism or ignorance) can save us in the long run!
2. Authoritarian forms of governance can be lethal (also for others)
I am convinced that COVID-19 originated from animals. Geographically it jumped over to human beings in China. Could such a virus have started in other countries? Most likely: yes, but there is one peculiarity in this case: authoritarian systems love to conceal. Sometimes even in a spirit of anticipatory obedience. What must not be, cannot be!
Democratic societies have a built-in mechanism that makes downplaying such a danger not impossible but much more difficult. Could a global spreading have been prevented, or at least limited through more open and honest handling in the early days? It is at least worth a thought and reminds me of Chernobyl back in 1986. A lack of transparency within one system can have a lethal impact on everybody else outside as well (see “interconnectivity”).
This crisis has also shown to a shocking extent the willingness of democratic governments to sacrifice personal freedom for security. Whether COVID-19 tracking apps (a gateway to reducing our civil rights) to suspending the parliament in the case of Hungary. There are much larger challenges ahead of us (climate change, singularity, etc.). Independent from gradual or spontaneous crises, we must ensure checks and balances within our systems. Our freedom has to be a red, non-crossable line. I don’t see this sufficiently protected yet.
Only an open society represents an antipole to concealment and fake news!
3. Death is part of life
One of my first contacts with mortality was when my grandparents died. I was a child, and to me, they were old. Not before my parents passed away, I started to understand my finite nature. Parents are supposed to be around forever until they are gone. Then you have a clear view of your ultimate end. Death and us, it’s a complicated story. I will not start a philosophical discussion about why we have to die or what might be there-after. Death is a fact and part of life, yours and mine, with or without COVID-19.
Besides, it is essential, putting death statistics into a proper context. First, most people died with rather than just from coronavirus. It might sound cruel to differ between direct and indirect causes. From a less emotional, more crisis management point of view, it is essential. Second, it is enlightening to compare COVID-19 to overall cases of death. In China, with a population of 1,393mn (!), about 10mn are dying every year. Officially there were 4.633 coronavirus casualties so far. Use a reality-adjusted multiple, and it is still a fraction. Or let’s take Italy. 60mn people, 640,000 regular deaths per annum, and so far 27,000 deceased connected to COVID-19.
Year-to-date, 225,000 people have died with coronavirus. By the end of 2020, about 60mn people (an entire population of Italy) will have died, on this globe in total, from hunger, cancer, war, or because they were old (versus 140mn newborns). Every person who dies leaves some emptiness in our hearts. However, we are obliged to put numbers in proper relation, and we must accept that death is part of our life because those who fear death aren’t living.
Those who fear death are not living!
4. We need to upgrade our system
System-wise, we all experienced something extraordinary during the last couple of weeks, a shutdown almost everywhere. We retreated into our homes, driven by legal requirements and collective fear. In some places, animals regained human habitat. For me, the main difference was: empty streets, incredible silence, and fresh air. In German, we call this phenomenon Entschleunigung (or deceleration). Many people may have heard of it but hardly ever felt it before.
I believe that on a macro level, this temporary stand-still has given us a hint: decelerate a bit and adjust the direction of our global course. Can materialistic growth be the infinite dogma? I do not have an answer to that yet. I see us being challenged on this subject now and not just in a couple of generations. There are structural challenges for our economies and societies. Some are disputed, like climate change. Others are more than welcome, like technological developments (robotic, AI, quantum computers, 3D printing, genetics …) but underestimated in their disruptive energy. These changes will come more gradually but will be non-reversible once we finally see their impact.
We need to prepare our economies to be more sustainable and make our societies more resilient. Our global operating system needs some form of upgrade. Neither stage democracies nor authoritarian structures will be very helpful for these missions. Such a change can only come from the base. The more people will engage themselves in smaller or larger activities, the bigger the hope that eventually we will still succeed.
We need to work on a more sustainable economy and resilient society!
We need to work on a more sustainable economy and resilient society!
5. Understand what you need for being happy
Most people faced two types of fear during this crisis: fear of death and existential angst. All of a sudden, we were grounded, couldn’t see our friends or wider family. No hugs and kisses. We worried about others and saw ourselves in intensive care. Some got fired, others worked from home. While social distancing was mandatory outside many homes became a social minefield. The new reality brutally kicked in. Life became different.
Latest, after a couple of weeks in non-voluntary isolation, most of us started to think about our old life, about what is essential. How to achieve true happiness? Is it to spend your life at work to acquire more and more? Everyone is part of an invisible hamster wheel. On the one hand, it helps us to finance our needs.
Otherwise, why are so many people unhappy with their job or in their private life? Either, you are not looking forward to going back to your work. Or, you are desperate to go back because you can’t stand your life at home anymore. Both scenarios should make you start thinking. We all have good and less good days. If you are happy 100% of your time, drop me a line, and share your secret. +80% is a pretty good rate. If you are permanently below 50%, change something in your life. Be grateful, corona-times may have given you the necessary kick to do something about it.
If you are unhappy, dare to change your life!
Summary:
1. Only a global mindset and collaboration (no nationalism or ignorance) can save us in the long run!
2. Only an open society represents an antipole to concealment and fake news!
3. Those who fear death are not living!
4. We need to establish a more resilient and sustainable economy and society!
5. If you are unhappy, dare to change your life!
Let’s not allow corona times to bring only negative things. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change structures and behavior for the better. If you got a bit inspired by my views, take a minute. Define some (smaller or larger) action steps on what you can do based on the above-described takeaways. Every journey begins with a first step. I am looking towards hearing where your journey has led you to.
