Catastrophic Thinking

When we are faced with a bleak scenario, it is easy to assume the worst. Purely as an intellectual pursuit, it is a win-win proposition. You have the satisfaction of being proved right or the relief that the worst outcome didn't materialize. Which is fine, unless you start buying into your gloomy outlook too heavily and close yourself to the possibility that it may not materialize. And, related oourunities that might come your way. For instance, that Covid-19 poses an existential threat to UK higher education, which was already weakened by decades of marketisation. Ergo, my chances of landing a job or post-doc in the next 12 months are slim to none. While this is unquestionably true, it is dangerous if I stop keeping an open mind to job/post-doc possibilities. I firmly believe things seldom turn out as bad you fear or as well as you hope.