Vigilance in the Time of Peace

As the old saying goes, ‘be vigilant in peacetime, as thinking is preparing, and preparation can avert calamities’. Even if we are at peace, we still have to ready ourselves for any threat or danger. Being prepared for everything is surely a good thing, but if one has to be vigilant around the clock, how could one possibly enjoy peace of mind? See-see who excels in both conduct and learning; Mrs Lee who handles her housework in a meticulously organised manner; Miss Chan who cares for her students, they all have a precautious character, which makes them an excellent student, an impeccable housewife and a great teacher in the eyes of others. However, every little thing triggers their mental alarms which then ensnare them in anxiety, and they even begin to show physical reactions in varying degrees. They may all be prone to generalised anxiety disorder. Concerns come up every day for everyone. Humans are intrinsically vulnerable to feeling anxious and worried as a natural response to potential threats. If we do not wish to fall from a wise man who remains ‘vigilant in the time of peace’ to a moron who fears that ‘the sky may fall’, we will need to adjust our ‘anxiety’ and co-exist with our ‘worries’.