Overcoming pessimism & depression in the pandemic

 

Four principles that help to overcome depression and pessimism.
This is an excerpt taken from an interview given to a television channel.

This post is also available in: हिन्दी

Bringing the pandemic under control requires collective action. Everyone must do their bit. The escalating global health crisis has reinforced the need for equipping our inner self-defense mechanisms too. Make sure you sleep enough, work out and meditate. Stress and anxiety weaken your immune system. Making asanas, pranayamas, and meditation an integral part of daily life can change not just one’s physical chemistry but also make the mind peaceful and resilient.

Four principles will help us overcome depression and pessimism:

1. Know this will change

   This is a temporary phase we are going through. It is a challenge. We get strength to move on when we know this is not going to last forever – for a few days, months, or maybe a year or so. See life from a broader perspective and see this as a passing phase of it.

2. Reach out to others

   A few people are not involved in any service activities and are getting into a sort of deep depression. That is happening because they are in their small clusters, their wells like a kupmanduka (frog in a well). You stay in your well and you keep sulking even more, becoming more miserable. Don’t keep sulking at your sorrows. Wake up and see! There is suffering on all sides. Share your problem with others and be open to sharing others’ problems. That will also give you a lot of relief and hope to live. This is the time to awaken the valor in you and help others. This will help people to get over the mental trauma they are going through.

3. Turn inwards

   This is the time to turn inwards. Meditation will give you the answer. Meditation is the answer in fact and you can turn yourself to the philosophy of life through it. Instead of sulking and being depressed, turn yourself to philosophy, self-inquiry, and creating awareness that wakes you up. It awakens you to the call of the truth.

4. Be creative

   This is the time to look for ways to overcome the situation. Put your attention on something creative. To be creative, you have to be by yourself. Instead of doing meaningless things or thinking, put your attention on creating something new which will help others too.

This is an excerpt taken from an interview given to a television channel.

This post is also available in: हिन्दी