We’ve been living on this Earth for thousands of years, yet the true meaning and purpose of our lives still elude us. Despite all our progress in science, technology, communication, and AI, the search for contentment remains a struggle we continue to face.
We each know someone navigating life’s uncertainties and, often, we are figuring it out ourselves too. We have searched for answers in scriptures, self-help books, and even in stars, with no success. Now, we have started turning to AI chatbots in our search for guidance, asking personal questions and relationship advice.
I believe, along the way, we have overcomplicated our lives with choices, expectations, and distractions.
What if I tell you viruses have long figured out their life. Yes, these tiny beings have already figured it all out. We have been looking everywhere, now maybe we should give viruses a chance and see what they have to offer. So, get your microscopic glasses on and let’s dive into the world of tiny viruses.
Viruses have existed for billions of years on earth, long before we came to existence. To give you a context, modern human evolved roughly 300,000 thousands years ago. Apparently, they are even older than the first cells. So, you can imagine how experienced viruses are.
They have been influencing our societies and life from ancient times by causing plagues and epidemics. One of the earliest known example is Antonine Plague from 180 AD, which contributed to the weakening and eventual decline of the Roman Empire. This shows us just how powerful and far-reaching viruses truly are.
We have to give them their credit. They must be doing something right because how it is even possible that something so tiny can shake the foundation of our civilization? And they have done so repeatedly across history, subtly reminding us who’s the boss here.
Now, what can we learn from them?
They are the most experienced beings on our planet. And this experience is what makes them invincible. Don’t you think, we should learn from their experiences.
They believe in couple of things.
1. Simplicity of purpose:
They single-mindedly focus on only one thing: replication. That’s it. Simple and clear. They don’t overthink, or seek out complex purposes. They have one and only one goal. No side quest. Just replication. Their sole purpose is to find a suitable host and make thousands of copies of themselves using the host’s machinery. They do not get involved in any other cellular complexities. Well, sometimes they do, but most of the time, they keep things very simple and minimal.
I am not suggesting that our purpose should also be the same as viruses (to reproduce), but we can learn from their simplicity and unidirectional approach in life. We can set our own goals (no matter big or small) and work toward them wholeheartedly. Just consistent work. Trust me, doing that will make you feel more content and peaceful.
2. Adaptability:
Nothing can come in their way to deviate them from fulfilling their purpose. Even when we try to stop them, they come up with new ideas to bypass our defenses and continue on their journey. They adapt very quickly to changes, whether it’s our immune system, vaccines or environmental shifts. Rapid evolution in response to challenges is one of their superpowers.
We can also implement this approach and make ourselves more aware of our circumstances. We too can adapt to the situations without disturbing our focus to achieve the set goal. Drive according to the road. If the road is bumpy, drive slowly. If the road is smooth, drive at a steady pace. This has helped viruses stay on track for millions of years, and it’s one of the main reason they are still around and thriving today.
Conclusion
We often believe that solving our problems requires elaborate strategies, massive change, making tasks list or endless planning. But maybe, like viruses, we just need to get back to the basics. Pick a goal. Focus on it. Repeat what works. Discard what doesn’t. And while doing so, don’t forget that you are doing it all for inner peace (and dinner please 🥋🐼).
As these little creatures have shown us time to time, the solution is not in fancy strategies, rather it is in simplicity and clarity.
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