I am lucky. I have been relieved of my wallet only twice in my life. Last week I wrote about my experience with snatch thieves in Malaysia. The other time was when my wallet was picked in London’s Leicester Square. Notorious for pickpockets. The pickpocket unzipped my bag and took my wallet whilst I was walking! Extreme skill.

The irony is that the London Transport Authority constantly reminds the public of the threat of pickpockets through their public service announcements. My brain had heard it so many times that it began to disregard the information! I am always careful when I am in any large city, but I was oblivious in London (my own backyard).

At the point of my pickpocket incident in London, I had been living and working in London for 6.5 years and had not experienced this phenomenon, so I felt “immune” from it. And I believe pickpockets are good at spotting the ‘immune’ ones. I was easy prey.

The unfortunate thing was that I had to travel to Italy the next morning and those plans had to be shelved because I had no cards (credit or ATM) to travel with. (I instantly searched the bins in the area I was in and found many other wallets but mine. The modus operandi of pickpockets is to take the cash and dump the wallet with cards etc).

I was reflecting on a few things this week and it struck me. We behave in different ways to different circumstances. We behave based on the information we receive which we then cross-check against information we already have.

This brings me to a current challenge. The pandemic. We are 6 weeks into our latest lockdown and our covid infections are at their highest levels in Malaysia! Last year when we first went into lockdown, people were careful and following standard operating procedures (SOP). There was so much unknown about the virus that most of the population conformed. For some, to the point of obsession. People were clearing shelves of hand sanitizers and sanitising frequently.

Fast forward to today and the virus is no longer an unknown and we have over a year’s worth of learned experience. Hand sanitizers are not always in designated spots in outlets and masks are not worn properly. It seems that some of those who have not caught the virus feel they are ‘immune” from it. A sense of “it won’t happen to me”. There have been instances of people doing exactly the opposite of what is permissible. Leaving many wondering why. Their brains were disregarding information.

I am feeling lockdown fatigue. With numbers rising even though we have been in lockdown for so long feels like my sacrifices have been in vain. There is no progress. Our brains are wired to look for rewards, but no rewards are present.  I understand the frustration that so many are feeling. Motivation levels are low.

To feel progress, the momentum we achieve should be greater than the friction we feel. Right now, the friction (rising cases) is greater than the momentum achieved (length of lockdown) leaving many feeling stagnant. Or to use an airplane metaphor, we are stalling.

“The antidote to stagnation is innovation”, said Arthur Conan Doyle. Key stakeholders and think tanks of the government are proposing several other (new) approaches to our current crises. As it happens, although our infection numbers are the highest since the start of the pandemic, this week our vaccination rates were one of the highest in the world. Greater friction has led to new and different momentum. But more new approaches are required.

Because what worked last year is not working this year. The virus has learned and adapted and so must the approach to combat it. Fresh perspectives and multiple perspectives on our current situation are what is needed.

What about you? What situation are you feeling “immune” to or unable to assess your situation because you are too close to it? How can you imbue new thinking or gain new perspectives on your situation?

As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com