Life has changed for most of us as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Even as some aspects of life seem to go back to normal, other things may remain permanent. Many of us have lost jobs and income. Some of our favourite shopping and eating establishments have gone out of business.
Beyond these changes, health and safety are factors that we can no longer take for granted. Many of the institutions which we assumed would safeguard us have proved fallible. We have been made to face the realisation that we are all to some extent vulnerable, at the same time as dealing with the concern of what may happen to our loved ones.
The pandemic, the lockdown and its aftermath may put you through an entire emotional roller coaster. Stress, depression, loneliness, and frustration are some of the most common reactions in the age of social distancing. Those of us with pre-existing medical conditions may have felt especially anxious.
It could be argued that when COVID-19 forced us to put our lives on pause, it also provided us with an opportunity to face our vulnerabilities, identify our character strengths and realign our core values which could become the bedrock for the way we live moving forward. As much as the pandemic has altered your perspective on a personal level, the same can also be said about many of us at a societal level. Below is a list of 12 core values our society may be shifting toward in the post-pandemic era.
Before COVID-19, the dominant narrative in our western society centred around the need to achieve and stay busy. However, lockdown forced many of us to slow down and pause. This in turn gave many of us time to recharge our batteries.
The months spent remaining indoors provided many of us with the opportunity to abandon our previous schedules and try things we spent a long time wanting to do. Online courses and videos became very popular in introducing new activities such as learning a language, coding, and playing music.
Lockdown also forced us to spend time away from most other people. It was during this period that we suddenly realised how interdependent we all are. The extent to which we rely upon others became apparent, especially regarding essential workers such as medical staff and supermarket employees. Without their efforts, we would cease to function.
Slowing down and time spent in isolation provided many of us with the opportunity to reflect upon ourselves, formulate new routines, as well as become familiar with our authentic side. This was a rare opportunity that the rat race rarely enabled us to take advantage of.
Let’s face it, how many of us were unable to purchase the things we might normally spend money on if there was not a lockdown. Certain things can be purchased online still, but with most stores and restaurants remaining shut, we became used to being inside and not opening our wallets so much. It’s possible that this time may have shown us many things we are able to live without.
The very poorest, including those categorised as essential workers were among the most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. The pandemic has brought it home to many, just how vulnerable those without real wealth are. Moving forward we may see more demand from the more vulnerable members of society to feel respected and protected.
Before the pandemic, most people were required to commute to work, with many employers sceptical about letting their staff work from home. However, the lockdown has changed much of that. Office workers were granted the freedom to work virtually, maintaining communication with bosses and co-workers via video conference. Since then, many companies have come to realise the cost benefits of not working out of an office at the same time as seeing that their staff can still be productive. Moving forward, working from home may become standard practice instead of being reserved a rare privilege.
We invite you to share your feedback with us. Have you tried any of these before? Have you tried anything different? What has worked for you? What has not worked?
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As always, if you are experiencing any severe medical or psychological symptoms, we always recommend you speak to a directly qualified professional.
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