During a time of crisis, people to focus their attention on simple things that have a high practical value. Things like face masks, that have a high value at any time in helping to protect against infection, are particularly dear in times of a global pandemic and health crisis. People in positions of authority including politicians, directors, and even business executives, rarely spend any time to reflect on the reasons for the crisis and the lack of preparedness. This is a good opportunity to take stock of planning and preparedness. But, instead of focusing on the usual aspects like money and material, the Shinsei Method also considers inner preparedness and planning, which is the foundation of all planning and preparedness. The importance of inner preparedness is often overlooked. Preparedness like investing is begins with a particular mindset or attitude.
In any crisis there must be a lack of preparedness. By definition, a crisis implies a shortage of something: a physical item, knowledge, skill, people, etc. At the same, during a crisis the same cadre of people often squander valuable time looking for who was to blame versus finding the quickest solution. This is not to imply that it is irrelevant to know the person or people who may have thwarted the crisis and why they did not or could not. Not necessarily for the purposes of blame. Although, if there was gross or criminal negligence involved as there often is, this is another matter. But, for the purpose of understanding the issue and to take the necessary steps to ensure the same type of crisis–or at least at the same level–is not repeated. It is not possible to be on crisis footing at every moment of every day. However, this obvious fact is often used as an excuse rather than an insight. In business there is even a field dedicated to crisis management, which implies that the state of crisis is a par for the normal course of doing business. In other words, there is a general mindset that crisis cannot be averted, and that they are something to get used to as a part of the normal flow things. But, crises are not normal. They are extenuating circumstances that cannot always be foreseen–like an earthquake–but can always be prepared for at least in a general sense. For example, prior to the 1960s in America, there was a much stronger cultural push to be prepared for emergencies at every level. Not necessarily to horde food, money, or other personal items. But, to be aware that emergencies can happen at any time, and there are certain steps that can be taken to prepare for them to some degree. This level of cultural awareness has changed drastically in America, and that change has strong implications for individuals-like you and me–that still believe in values like preparedness: mental and physical.
Preparedness, especially self-preparedness is one of the most important steps toward developing self-trust. The value of preparedness becomes starkly apparent during a crisis like a global pandemic or other health crisis since it tends to focus many people on those parts of life that really matter, namely life itself. Life and health make all other values pale in comparison during a health crisis whether that crisis is national or individual. But, why is there a crisis? Why are so many people inside and outside of government so ill prepared for such an emergency? Are they now taking the opportunity to better prepare themselves for other future crises or pandemics?
When I look around at the people who live nearby, I would have to answer no to the previous question. When I look around at the everyday people around me I do not get a sense that there is a global pandemic going on or that there is tremendous economic uncertainty about the the 20 million people out of work, the strength of the dollar, the potential for significant inflation and loss of purchasing power, or the unforeseen consequences for the widespread government intrusion into so many aspects of American life. I routinely see people walking about as if they were on a beach. This is not to imply that everyone should walk around as if it were the end of times. However, it could be. Probably not, but there is significant uncertainty which does not bode well with the party mentality, that is if preparedness is an important value. When work has to be done, focus and concentrated effort are required. But, this highlights precisely the challenge for individuality, well-being, and profitability for that matter. The general cultural, political, regulatory, and educational environment are not conducive to preparedness or the other important values that help to build self-trust. In Aesop’s influential fable about the grasshopper and the ant, the mentality of the grasshopper who never plans for the future and chases only after one indulgence to the next, is the more prevalent mentality. This makes self-trust exceedingly difficult for those who do believe in constructive values like preparedness, health, strength, balance, and trust even though these are the values upon which all human achievement is built. To build self-trust during a global pandemic is to build self-trust at any time, crisis or not. Self-trust requires two elements that are even more valuable at times like these.
First, self-trust requires an understanding that your values are valid and valuable. How is this understanding achieved? Sometimes with great difficulty. However, self-analysis seems to be the only reliable way. To coldly, methodically, and consistently evaluate basic premises, ideas, and values that you hold in order to confirm–and re-confirm–that those values, ideas, and premises are logical. That of course depends on an ability and skill in logical analysis, which again is one of the skills schools often destroy. Once you are convinced that your views, values, and premises are valid and valuable about some particular thing like preparedness, then self-trust depends on reminding yourself daily or hourly if necessary, that they are still valid and will remain valid in a time of crisis. Success as measured by your predictions proving true especially in times of crisis, helps in this confirmation process. For example, if a lifestyle of not smoking, not drinking, regular strength building exercises provides improved health, that is a sound confirmation that health is a very important value no matter that others always only want to drink to excess, as they are often encouraged to do in many social situations. Self-trust is self-belief. Self-belief is very difficult to achieve because so much of what we are taught encourages us to think that our views and values are not valid even when they may be more valuable than ever.