MIDDLE OF THE MOOD SPECTRUM- MEH!
The coronavirus enters humanity in 2019 and it begins to create ripples across the length, breath and height of life. This domino effect has far reaching consequences on primarily three aspects- mental/ emotional, financial and spiritual.
To focus, we shall discuss only the mental-emotional component. It has always been easier to be identified with a set of characteristics that can define a person. So if someone is excited, that person is labeled chirpy/ happy and if someone is feeling down, the person may be labeled as sad/ depressed. But what do we say when it is neither?
The current state of the world enforced “lockdown” for people. I am yet to wrap my head around the term! How can it be a “lockdown” at “home”. Home Sweet Home is the place to return to, to rest, enjoy, procreate and nourish. Since when has it become a place to feel stuck and locked? But the terminology got viral and “lockdown” is the new term for staying at home. Well, it is only logical to argue that it is a forced stay at home and that curbs the freedom of humans. I agree but let that be the topic for another day.
This state of affairs that looms the world is causing many people to feel uninterested, apathetic and just plainly, blah! The sociologist, Corey Keyes, has a name for it, “languished”. Yes, it is the neglected kid of mental and emotional health. The only place where I think it is recognised is the corporate world. Everywhere else, the focus is either on its elder brother, happy and younger brother, depression.
People are reporting a certain degree of disinterest in life, its activities and a complete lack of motivation. It is not a scenario of being depressed or anger and anxiety; it just is a complete flat line of emotions. What keeps us engaged is the wave of emotions, the troughs and crests, that make us feel wanted, neglected, loved, unloved, good enough or not good enough. But being languished is like straightening out the ECG graph.
Once a wise man said that the opposite to love is not hate, it is indifference. It is this “meh!” that is most detrimental at the moment and seems to be in the drivers’ seat for many people. Finding life as aimless and meaningless does not even promote survival. The Shawshank Redemption and Schindlers’ List are beautiful examples of that. These classics sensitively demonstrate the impact of lack of meaning and purpose for an individual.
Identification of this feeling of being languished is the first step. The second step is finding meaning is everyday activities. Mindfulness and pursuing a hobby would really be of constructive benefits at this time. In the centre of each one’s heart lies the need to contribute which essentially means to focus outwardly, looking at the needs of the people around you or those who are not able to make their ends meet. When we step out of “I feel languished” and say, “Hey! How can I make a difference?”, different paths open up. Let us try to move beyond “my feelings my emotions, my thoughts” to the people’s need and wants and we may experience another domino effect and this time, it may be that of creating ripples of gratitude and abundance.