OUR QUEST FOR PREDICTABILITY (in the face of the novel coronavirus)

Few predicted the pandemic of Covid-19.

To say that most of us like predictability is an understatement.

A rare person craves the excitement of an unplanned adventure. Even those who like adventure, anticipate (and certainly hope for) a certain amount of the expected. I’m quite sure that mountain climbers bank on good weather and the absence of avalanches.

Yet, humans are the least predictable animals on Earth and viruses, which are not animals, are even less predictable.  And their invisibility heightens their challenging and scary nature. The combination of their ability to sicken us, and their invisibility lead to a heck of a lot of anxiety in us humans.

What can we do in the face of this unpredictability?

Of course, we can focus on the predictable. But these days what seemed predictable, isn’t.  Everyday essentials like like toilet paper, towels and tissues have disappeared from grocery and pharmacy shelves. Whoever became more anxious first, and perhaps better informed (or misinformed), made certain assumptions about availability of these items and became hoarders.

What we can predict is that panic and hysteria do not boost our immune systems or our ability to cope and think through the problem at hand.

We know that panic and hysteria weaken us— our body, mind and spirit—and lessen our chances for survival.

This is certain! So, in the face of unpredictability, let us first focus on how to avoid panic and hysteria.

1.     We can do this by imagining that things will get better, not worse. 

2.     We can be present in the moment and focus on our positive on our positive connections: the presence  (or thoughts) of a friend, lover, mate, children, and/or a pet(s). (Pets possess what seems like a magical power to reassure. We are their caretakers, and yet with their constancy and predictability and unconditional love, they take care of us.)

In brief, in the face of unpredictability, let’s focus on our connections to those we like and/or love and to taking care of ourselves and others.

Self-care involves a healthy, nutritious diet, rest, relaxation and exercise and of course positive thinking.

Let’s remember the lesson of Victor Frankl who survived in the concentration camp during World War II and boosted his spirit with the creativity of his mind. An Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, he introduced a novel psychological theory of logotherapy by focusing on and envisioning those he loved.

Frankl wrote the following: 

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. 

When we can’t change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

Between stimulus and response there is a space and in that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

The salvation of man is through love and in love.

In our minds, let’s find as many persons, animals, things and places that we love. 

History shows us that we have to overcome many dire situations, and that we’ll overcome this one too. This much is predictable.

Dear Reader, I look forward to your comments.

jsimon145@gmail.com