#10 A silver lining 🕯
As I write this, scarcity seems to be everywhere.
Because of COVID-19, we are all facing more of it than usual. We are feeling a scarcity of certainty, of human interaction, of inner peace, of resources.
Scarcity has a curious way of influencing our brain.
It causes "tunnel vision." Our brain and attention get fixated on the things we don't have, affecting our thoughts, actions and decision-making.
To escape the "scarcity trap," it's necessary to expand our attention and become more conscious of what we are gaining and not only what we are lacking.
Author Albert Camus wrote, "there have been as many plagues as wars in history, yet always plagues and war take people equally by surprise."
We are forgetful creatures. Just as we seem to forget what leads to these outbreaks to prevent future ones, we also forget the silver lining that follows.
We overlook that when faced with difficulties like these, we tend to excel as a species. At moments like this, we can be at our most emphatic, ingenious and creative state.
Indeed, though extreme and cruel, pandemics catalyze innovation and accelerate change. They push human creativity beyond what we think possible.
A few of examples.
Modern medicine and The Great Plague in Europe (1347 to 1351)
Cities realized their medical system did not work to keep them alive. This led to the start of modern medicine, based in science and experimentation and not just religion.
Medical books went from being written in Latin to colloquial languages to make knowledge more accessible.
New technologies were invented to make work more efficient. Some examples are the printing press, eyeglasses, mechanical clocks, and the heavy plough that propelled agricultural productivity.
Issac Newton and The Great Plague of London (1665 to 1666)
While being a student at Trinity College (Cambridge), Issac Newton was also forced to leave school and continue his work from home to avoid the plague.
His time of "social distancing" is also known as his annus mirabilis, or "wonder years." From his bedroom and garden, he began experimenting and developing his theories of calculus, optics, gravity and motion.
When he returned to Cambridge with new theories, he became a fellow within six months and a professor two years later.
eCommerce and the SARS outbreak (2003)
The Alibaba team during the SARS 2003 crisis. Source: Sohu
Just like today, this crisis stopped travel, forced businesses to close and caused people to stay home.
At the time, there was little penetration of eCommerce in China. Yet, the need to stay connected and access items from home accelerated the adoption of eCommerce.
The crisis was a launchpad for companies like Alibaba and JD.com to grow and later become the most influential companies in Asia and the world.
The Takeaway:
We can broaden our perspective to escape "tunnel vision."
If you feel yourself falling into "the scarcity trap," reflect on all the positive things you have gained from being home. Like Newton, how can we make the most of this time?
We can see a silver lining, and it's beautiful.
Since the spread of COVID-19 we have seen:
New ways of working. Companies that were reluctant to flexible working formats are now experimenting with home-office schemes to help families stay safe and together.
New forms of collaboration. Scientists are using gamification to crowdsource solutions from across the globe.
Neighbours supporting neighbours. Values around family, friendship and hope are growing stronger.
Many businesses are understandig how to help. We see companies and brands like Google, Amazon, Absolut, Inditex and many more putting their know-how and resources for the good of society.
We are reappreciating the ordinary.
As a society, we are obsessed with continually trying to be percived as "extraordinary" and "exiting" through social media.
This has allowed us to slow down, take care of our bodies, reflect and appreciate the things we maybe took for granted. We are remembering that joy and beauty are also in simple and ordinary things.
Let me know what you think. Hit reply.
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Enjoy your weekend and stay safe!
María Albert