Maintain Your Sanity Even in Unsane Situations

“Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination,” so declared Mark Twain. To Tim Burton, “One person’s craziness is another person’s reality.” Let’s reflect on maintaining your sanity even when a situation seems Unsane.

Do you know that your ability to remain sane in the midst of insanity stands you out of the crowd and positions you for great exploits? In our daily lives, at home and in the street, at work or religious organisations, common observations include irrational behaviours, disappointing actions, queer reasoning, awkward reactions, etc. Each of these has the potential to instigate irrational reactions in you. However, your ability to rise above the heat of the moment, take control of yourself, and behave responsibly in such situations is a great trait and can enhance your ability to stay focused and chart your much desired course of life even when others are failing flat or falling apart. That is why Anaïs Nin said, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” With enough courage, one can restore order in the midst of choas. Emphasizing the value of order, Robert Southey explained, “Order is the sanity of the mind, the health of the body, the peace of the city, the security of the state. Like beams in a house or bones to a body, so is order to all things.”

So, enhance your capacity to maintain your sanity in all situations. Develop your zeal to always look for the bigger picture, enhance your vision to see a wider horizon, and develop your mind to think beyond the surface. Train yourself not to let external conditions control your internal responses. Know that though Akira Kurosawa declared that “In a mad world, only the mad are sane,” the fact, as Marcus Aurelius pointed out, is that “The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” Learn from Luis Miguel, who said, “I maintain my sanity by keeping my distance.” Irrespective of how challenging life may be, heed the counsel of Jim Butcher that laughing whenever you can keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. When losing your sanity seems attractive, listen to Franklin Roosevelt: “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” In the midst of a crazy world, obey Katherine Center: “Pay attention to the things that connect you with joy.”

As you step out, don’t allow events in the world or around you to control you. Be conscious that if you must remain sane always, you require a good dose of discipline. In Anna Smith’s words, “Discipline — both mental and physical — is crucial.”

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Prof. (Engr.) Esang Esitikot is a professor of occupational health and safety, a COREN-registed chemical engineer, a public affairs analyst, marriage counsellor, youth mentor, reviewer for some international research journals and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He works for an international oil company and can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only