WHILE healthcare experts rightly keep advising on the wearing of masks, frequent washing of hands and maintaining our physical distance, we need to give prominence to common sense health science, too.
Happiness and stress have a direct impact on our immunity to the wretched Covid-19 virus.
While vaccines are being touted as the ultimate hope – which, unfortunately, is still unproven by the way – governments must not fail miserably in addressing the falling national happiness index and rising stress levels.
While the debate to continue with the various movement control orders (MCO) and the emergency declaration to stop parliamentary proceedings rages on, we need to stop and revisit the happiness index of the people and the mounting stress levels in the country.
There is a critical need to promote happiness. The Malaysian folly of “no money, no happy” will only further compound our stress levels.
The political climate prevailing (since last February) is not helping to bring down our national stress levels.
The pronounced threats of job cuts by the millions is no better.
The uncontrolled pricing of food is a sure way to keep happiness out of homes.
The government is duty-bound to explore and implement innovative measures that can fuel our happiness.
At the same time our politicians, policymakers and law enforcement authorities must owe up to the fact that they have a direct role in the rising stress levels of the rakyat.
The same goes to the business community too. Fraudulent measures to increase profits in the short term will only raise our stress levels many notches up.
But compassionate business decisions instead of profiteering mindsets will go a long way to both sustain businesses and keep happy customers.
We must, from all frontiers, find ways and means to address the plunging happiness index while stress levels are rising to alarming levels.
When happiness is cradled and stress defused, our immune system is better poised to help in the war against this infectious virus.
Perhaps our religious leaders too should come together to promote interfaith happiness during this trying period, rather than be suspected of helping politicians thrive on their divisive schemes.
Our rulers have the lead advantage to help in this agenda of increasing happiness and reducing stress as they have time and time again maintained that their actions benefit their subjects.
Let us go for more happiness and less stress. And should any politician stand in the way, let them be forewarned. – The Vibes, January 27, 2021
J.D. Lovrenciear reads The Vibes
