Psychology, sociology, and anthropology speak to us about interpersonal relationships, social relationships, and the complex system of feelings, emotions, and passions that accompany them.
Only by relating to others are we able to satisfy our deepest needs: identity, recognition, belonging, gratification, emotional stability, intimacy. And are the relationships we have, and their quality, that determines not only our role in society but also a good part of our happiness and satisfaction. As we grow or grow older, and over time our system of relationships and roles changes, the way we think about ourselves also changes.
We live in a world that is held together by a very intricate, multidimensional network of relationships that connect and make people, organizations, and institutions and ideas interdependent. And also everything that is related to the environment.
But COVID 19 has altered much of the system of relationships on which the world stands as we know it. Did it by hitting us, first of all, on what connects us to the universe: the breath. It has altered our individual relationships with space, time, the idea of death, the future. By separating and confining us, it has stressed relationships with our loved ones. He has modified, and even prejudiced, working relationships. With this, he undermined our own sense of identity. It has corrupted relations between communities and states, favoring the growing diffidence and the propensity to defend borders. Has undermined our sense of belonging. Finally, the pandemic has undermined our alleged relationship centrality (and our sense of omnipotence) within the ecosystem.
Someone said that almost everything has remained in its original position, but nothing works exactly as before. And everything seems more unstable and precarious. Sewing, restoring, restoring, and necessarily improving the relationships that hold the world together may seem like an impossible mission.
Yet the prospect is interesting. And the opportunity is now.
Thanks to you Paul for reading and for the comment I share.
For sure Aldo, our perceived centrality or omnipotence in our ecosystem is been rocked to its core. But just maybe also, we’ve been brought back to real belonging, because the process systems and technology we’ve used as a crutch for belonging have crumpled in this pandemic. Thanks for the good read.