Shakespeare, what the coronavirus pandemic really means. By Tosin Akinola

Ever wondered why assassins find it so easy to murder people? It’s simply because of their programming. While you find it to be cruel, they’ve actually conditioned their minds to think that it’s a good job for them or it’s fun. Why this illustration? Nothing means anything except the meaning you give to it. Shakespeare puts it this way, “nothing is good/bad but thinking makes it so.” So, in every given situation, it’s not the situation that matters but our thoughts about the situation.

For example, when someone close to you dies, the truth is, it has no effect on your health until your mind interpretes it to be a bad situation. However, you can fare better if you simply alter the meaning you give it because if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.

So, what meaning should you give Corona virus? How should you see it? See it as something that comes to bring out the best in us because pain is a gift. An English proverb says, “a smooth sea never made a skilful mariner” and tough times can only produce tough people.

Secondly, see it as something that will forcefully inspire change and innovation in our nation because recessions restores resourcefulness. Now, radio would be used to educate students at home, the health sector would be invested on, our leaders will become more responsible and proactive, schooling will no longer interfere with education, more businesses will work virtually, personal hygiene will improve, etc.

Finally, see it as a testing of your faith. Trust me, you will never know how strong you are until being strong is all you’ve got. But remember, if thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small