The Cadence of Calmness

During this difficult time of the pandemic, which still doesn't show any sign of abating, I see a lot of people in a constant state of anxiety. Sometimes the things they are anxious about are not worth worrying about. 

Firstly, if you avoid crowded places and ensure that you wear a mask, I think your chance of catching the Covid-19 virus is minimal. If you do get it, then it's just pure bad luck. You'll have to accept it. You just do what's necessary to protect yourself--like getting vaccinated. There's a mad chase to get vaccination appointments these days. People are anxious that, even after registering they are still not called up yet for their jab. Some try various other avenues to jump the queue.

I didn't bother, because I knew my turn would come. And came it did. I had my first jab and will go for my second one this week. You just do the necessary and not fuss over things that are not within your control. All you have to do is register for it and things will be set into motion. A notification will come when you are called up. Checking your MySejahtera app every day and trying to read into every tiny little change in the application doesn't serve any purpose. Being anxious about your appointment won't make it come sooner. 

Doing what is within my control has always been my guiding principle. After you've done it, let it go. Move on to the next task. Tackle the problem at hand, once. There is no point in anticipating the future or lamenting the past. Any thoughts of the future is for planning purposes only. Planning is something you do now, with data that projects to the future. Plan, execute and move on. Just like the philosophy of pass-and-move football. Make the right pass, run into space and be ready to receive the ball again. Ultimately, these small moves will lead to a goal.

That's how I live my life. We don't need to make it too complicated. Life is already challenging as it is. Tackle the challenge at hand. Take reasonable action. Observe results, correct action and try again. Pass and move.  Always have the eye on the ball.  If things are unfavourable, don't complain. Complaining or blaming doesn't solve problems. A course of action based on an analysis of the facts at hand is the best move. If the outcome of an action takes a while, it is always good not to over-anticipate things. Relax, let go and move on to the next thing.

In difficult times, it is important that we know how to manage our minds so as to not plunge ourselves into a state of depression. I know how difficult it is when you are overcome by such mental states. You tend to fall deeper and deeper into an abyss, without knowing how to extricate yourself from it. Relax, let go, move on.  That's the cadence of calmness that one needs to maintain all the time.