The 2020 pandemic has wrought myriad changes to most people in a pervasive, intrusive and economically devastating wave. Even though some people’s lives are hardly affected by it, I believe there is something left to be said on how to face this challenge with a positive attitude. In order to survive this pandemic, the mindset which is malleable, if changed, can help one to come out of it in a way that the damage can be minimized. The idea of settling for second best has been frowned upon generally. This is not to say that we should settle for second best in terms of finding a spouse, or even in looking for a different god. I mean to say that we can settle for second best things in life that have a temporal value- like jobs, clothes, furniture, cars, etc. Yes, the materialistic world can be enough for us if we just settle for the second best during this period. This is also not to say that we should stop being generous and help people who are truly in need. This method of easing up on our lifestyle can open channels for you to be a shelter for others who need it during this time. This mindset can set one free from comparison, from unnecessary stress and from our own expectations. It doesn’t have to be second best, it can be third best or fourth best, and so on. The idea is to be more flexible in one’s choices on things that one spends on.
If this pandemic is causing you to have difficulty getting that dream job you always wanted, and you know this difficulty will last as long as the stay home orders exist, why not settle for the second best job?
If you foresee that the economy is crashing and in a recession, why not buy a second best item instead and save hundreds or thousands of dollars?
A second best job can be temporary, and it will be better than being jobless for months. You can also use the money you earned from this second best job to feed into your assets and let them grow more. Is the earnings from the best job so much better that is why it is the best? Then fret not, cut down your spendings and readjust your expectations. Working a second best job can provide insight and a reflective experience on why you would want the best job available, and if you truly would want it. The second best job could even end up being your dream job one day. I am holding the definition of the second best job quite loosely, but I mean it is the job that you can do right now that is available, that wants you and makes the most of your abilities/experience/training. It is not the second job you have tried for an interview.
An item’s intrinsic value lies in how much that item can be used, how durable it will be, how versatile it can be, but the extrinsic value is how pleasing it is to the eye. There is often a mismatch on an item’s intrinsic and extrinsic value. This calls for a compromise. To lower your extrinsic expectation of an item if it meets your expectation intrinsically. Extrinsic values are often influenced by the culture, social media and people around us. How often we have a hard time deciding on things in the house such as furniture just based on the looks instead of the already present function? How often we worry about what others will think or comment? Are we paying for their praises when we purchase something that will have heaps of compliments? Or are we buying something because we truly need it?
To have a less stressful approach to the pandemic, we need to ease up on our expectations of ourselves and of our belongings to compete or match up to the rest of the world. If you are working during this pandemic, give yourself a pat on the back. You are also a hero if you are a homemaker, or stay at home Dad, even if you are not earning income but contributing to the family. To have this eased up mindset does not mean that we totally let go and relieve ourselves of our responsibilities to our families and to society. No, we continue to contribute to our family and to society in ways that we can. By knowing that we are contributing in ways, that even if it is small ways, it is a big win to our psyche. Do something daily that contribute to a better future for yourself, for your family, or to the society. It can be something very simple. But it is the small things in life that all add up to an honorable life.
During this time, fill your mind with good books, good knowledge and good ideas. Limit social media and news as much as you can, if you need to, block it from your web browser if you are spending way too much time on it. This will help your mind to continue to grow in a positive way that is not dragged down by the negativity or comparisons. Nurture your time with God during this time, and tell Him your thoughts and doubts, worries and concerns, but also worship Him as He truly deserves.
Jesus was born in a manger, worked as a carpenter, lived a truly bare simple life. No fancy chariots have he ridden, but on the back of a colt. Mighty God became flesh and died on the cross for our sins and he resurrected to give us everlasting life. He influenced and changed so many lives during his short time on earth, he lived for the will of God, for people’s souls, not for his own riches or power. He lived a humble yet mighty powerful life, full of the glory of God. Joy and peace is with Him. I believe that if you have Jesus, you have enough to live on. Read his word daily to feed your soul that was created to have him fill up. Youtube can’t satisfy you. Netflix can’t satisfy you. Disneyplus can’t satisfy you. I’m not saying that we cannot watch those shows, there are many nice shows out there that can refresh us, but only God can satisfy and give you meaning and hope. Not things. Not by living up to people’s unrealistic expectations. Not by outshining others with our lifestyle.
By living a life of contentment of what we have, using what we can find, and living with a mindset that we have value and we can bring value to our homes, our families, our society; who needs things to give us value?
...attest to His good, pleasing and perfect will 