Learned Helplessness on economic downturn

Groceries price up, rent going up and real wage barely up even decreased. That is the situation we are currently now, not only in Indonesia but also a global phenomenon in the last few years. No wonder some people just give up and lying flat knowing very well that they cannot change their situation in this era of economics.

However, reality does not care about feelings. There are rent due and food needed to be prepared to enough satiate the hungers. People still have to work or do business in this harsh environment just to get by and often... Their hard work is fruitless and can only pay the bill from paycheck to paycheck for more than half of global population in average. One missing paycheck and down the road they go.

The lucky one? They fastened their belt and contributed less to the economic by increasing their savings since they believe they just one misstep away to have the same fate. It is normal and it is understandable. The worst luck one? the one with no income and in search of work in this era of economic. hundreds of CV sending and have little to no responses from the employer. Be it intentional to keep them in line or just simply because of basic economics that is supply and demand.

When animals receive a lot of negative stimuli, they become passive and don't bother to resist anymore. This what the researchers called "Learned Helplessness". We can argue that some people choose to be NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) not because they are lazy, but because simply they receive a lot of rejections emails, letters and often no answers.

It is ok to feel that way and take time to recoup and mend the phycological scars from lots of rejections and bad news. Don't be disheartened, for those who are looking for means to live in this tough times. It reflects people who are resilient and strong willed that if it is you who in this situation and can read this article. We can take a time break from constant rejections.

For those who have not luxury of the time. They should consider swallow their pride and ask for help from relatives and friends, human is social creature after all. Many moons pass and away from feast to famine in the past and we survived because of this trait. Don't be shy and bide your time, hone your skills and use all means necessary to survive!

Widening the network also a good way to start. Since most of company often use them when searching for new candidate for unlisted job postings. Like it or not it is the reality of the job market. Our ancestral brains prefer someone with clear background and proven capable instead of training a new hire without any experiences. They provide more sense of security and belongings toward the person that is being introduced by the "same tribe" in the past.

As always... be strong and be patient. Even the darkest night will pass, and the brightest dawn will rise!