First published in April 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking – what happens after this? The world has turned upside down. In times like this, I’ve tried to declutter the present chaos and focus on values that will continue to last. Hopefully, focusing on these values will help us patiently endure the challenges of today and emerge with a better tomorrow.
There will be a better tomorrow
This has to be said first. “Gloom and doom” seem to be the theme of most news stories and conversations with friends. Why are nihilistic tendencies so woke right now? Remember that this is the same human species that has gone into space and made such incredible progress with our science. There are millions of examples from history where we have emerged from arguably worse times.
Humans thrive in a group; not by living alone
I understand that we are in a social distancing mode. However, let’s not forget – humans thrive in a group. Over the last couple of centuries, we’ve formed elaborate mechanisms so that we can work effectively together, not alone. Think about the food in your kitchen. If you went back a couple of centuries, it wouldn’t be surprising if you grew, harvested, cleaned, cooked food, all by yourself. It’s not the reality anymore and this has freed up a lot of our time to focus on more high-value activities.
Democratic values should be cherished
One of the institutions that has emerged in the last couple of centuries is democracy. That has truly improved the quality of life over the last couple of centuries. Democracy is participative, empowers the individual, and thrives on trust built by strong institutions (judiciary, legislature, and other public institutions). Just think about the present progress in science which has been engendered by democratic values compared to the medieval times of religious interference. To think that totalitarian institutions can bring more stability and progress can be tempting but ultimately will prove to be false. Here’s an article I wrote about how these democratic values are being imbibed even in our computing technology.
Overcoming short-termism
If there is one way to describe the issues of the present then this is it – short-termism. It has entered almost every single aspect of our lives. Most of us live only in the present and can’t think beyond immediate needs. Our public companies also don’t usually think about financial results beyond a quarter or two. Fast fashion has exponentially reduced the half-life of a piece of garment in our closets. This has only been further fuelled by the rise of social media. In fact, I’m sure very few readers of this article will even reach up to this point because they may have already lost their focus.
We simply don’t have the capacity to fathom risks beyond a certain time horizon. If it’s not happening now, then no one cares. Climate change and the current pandemic crisis could have been well averted if we had the ability to think beyond the short term.
If there is one thing you take away from this article, remember this – balance your own short-term tendencies, build your mental capacity, and think longer term. This applies to all of us, including me.
Start investing in a better future
This pandemic has laid bare the reality of the modern world. The health outcomes of the most prosperous countries are directly linked to that of an individual in the poorest corners of the world. While many privileged folks continue to happily live a life of social distancing, inequality has worsened the lives of those living paycheck to paycheck or those whose houses are less than 6 ft wide. We can’t turn a blind eye to these realities. We need to invest in a better future today.
Yash Tambawala 