That would be a real gift of crisis.

COVID has changed life as we know it, forcing people to adopt new lifestyles, behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. While this level of disruption is unparalleled for many of us, it is also highly instructive. Like many crises, COVID can help us evaluate what matters, what’s working, what we miss, what we need, and where we should go. I suggest distilling all these questions down to one essential concern: What can we do to be happier?

I think about happiness a lot. I’m an ambitious person, but I’m not as driven by status and success now as I used to be in my 30s. I earn money in a variety of ways, some that are corporate, others entrepreneurial. I try to devote myself to activities that I enjoy and help me feel fulfilled. I try to balance my work life with other interests.

Adolescence was a sudden shift in my life. Like many people, I went from being a carefree youngster, obsessed with playtime, to a morose teenager who felt moments of stress, pressure, depression, and despair, even as I seemed like a relatively untroubled and happy person on the surface.

At some level, I assumed that was brain chemistry. But now I think it had more to do with engagement and purpose. The school was interesting, but it didn’t consume or drive me like work, and family life did start in my twenties and thirties.

Then, I went through some major changes that forced me to reevaluate my life and world view. I stepped away from my role as an executive in a corporation and became a mentor, entrepreneur, and advisor. I wrote a book about crisis and purpose.

Out of that period of deep self-reflection, I gained more awareness and clarity. I wouldn’t say I’m happy all the time now, but I’m very happy with who I am, and I understand better how to connect with what matters to me.

Rohr believes this shift is hard because Western culture and capitalism are very “first half of life” oriented. The drive to succeed, survive, earn, and accomplish is reinforced by the world around us. Rohr says that it usually takes a very difficult time in life, a “rock-bottom” moment, to turn us away from a first-half of life path and toward more introspection and awareness. I call it a crisis.

Today, because of COVID, many people are experiencing low points. Some are busier than ever. They’re working from home and logging onto endless Zoom meetings while taking care of children who can’t be in school and elderly parents at risk of infection. Other people are stuck with less to do. They don’t have and can’t find jobs.

We now have the opportunity to question many aspects of the life we lead. What contributes to our life and what detracts from it? What do we need more of and what do we now realize is less important? Will we value moments of a community (schools, restaurants, cinemas) more because they have become harder to access? Will we want to maintain the ability to experience solitude or practice yoga on Zoom?

My hope is that we discover the essence of what makes us happy and focus more deliberately on achieving it going forward. Perhaps, despite the tragedy and difficulty of this time, there are lessons and experiences we will value and want to keep.

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He has spent more than 25 years in positions of significant responsibility (general management, sales & marketing) with multinationals in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, leading senior teams to achieve high performance and change. His educational background in chemical engineering & business and he is dedicated to continuous learning.

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