ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
(MKT-511, Sec: B)
ASSIGNMENT TOPIC
Demotivating experiences during this corona confinement, and
driving forces you have been using to defend yourself
PREPARED FOR
Mr. Mahmud ullah
Associate Professor
Department of Marketing
PREPARED BY –
Mohammad Asiful Mowla (ID: 42044017)
BATCH – 44
DATE OF SUBMISSION – 31 August 2020
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA, DU
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, praises and thanks to the God, the almighty, for his showers of blessings
throughout our assignment work to complete the assignment successfully.
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to our respective and honorable teacher Mr.
Mahmud ullah as well as my department chairman who gave me the golden opportunity to do this
wonderful assignment on the topic on “Demotivating Experiences during This Corona
Confinement, and Driving Forces You Have Been Using to Defend Yourself”, which also helped
me in doing a lot of study & research and I came to know about so many new things and I am
really grateful for them.
I am extremely grateful to my parents for their love, prayers, caring and sacrifices for educating
and preparing me for my future.
Thank you,
Mohammad Asiful Mowla
ID: 42044017
Department of Marketing
University of Dhaka
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Executive Summary
The aim of this assignment was to pinpoint the most severe demotivating experience during
COVID-19 pandemic and to describe it. Then what lessons did I take from this experience and
how I used it for the beneficial purpose in my life is also described in it.
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Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 5
2. Learning to cope with uncertainty ....................................................................................... 5
3. Learning to accept uncertainty ............................................................................................ 6
a) Identifying my uncertainty triggers ................................................................................. 6
b) Allowing myself to feel the uncertainty ............................................................................ 6
c) Shifting my attention ......................................................................................................... 7
d) Pursuing a balanced lifestyle............................................................................................. 7
i. Deep breathing techniques: ........................................................................................... 7
ii. Getting Plenty of sleep: .................................................................................................. 7
iii. Eating a healthy diet: ................................................................................................. 7
4. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 7
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The Rise of Hope above Uncertainty
1. Introduction
During the start of COVID-19 pandemic the most severe demotivating experience for me is
uncertainty above all the other dire experiences that I had to go through
There's chaos all around us, never more so than now. The current COVID-19 pandemic has raised
uncertainty about the environment, housing, finances, relationships, physical and mental health of
course and we crave protection as human beings. We want to feel safe and feel in control of our
lives and wellbeing. Fear and anxiety about the course of our life will leave us feeling depressed,
nervous and powerless. It can drain us mentally, and trap us in a downward spiral of constant
"what-ifs" and worst-case scenarios of what could bring tomorrow.
How much confusion we can bear in life is unique for all of us since we are all different. Some
people seem to love taking chances and living uncertain lives while others are profoundly disturbed
by the randomness of life. But there's one ray of hope for us all. If we feel overwhelmed by
confusion and anxiety, it's important to know we not alone at this time; many of us are in the same
boat. It is also important to remember that no matter how powerless and hopeless we feel, there
are steps we can take to cope better with uncontrollable situations, relieve our fear and face the
unknown with greater confidence.
2. Learning to cope with uncertainty
While I hesitate to accept this, but uncertainty is a necessary and inevitable part of life. Very little
is constant or absolutely certain about our lives, and while we have power over many aspects, we
cannot have power over anything that happens to us. As the coronavirus outbreak illustrated, life
can very rapidly and unpredictably alter.
I have used worrying as a tool to deal with all this confusion and try and predict the future and
prevent unexpected surprises. Worrying made it look as if I had some power over unpredictable
circumstances. I started thinking it's going to help me find a solution to my problems or brace me
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for the worst. Perhaps if I'm just distressing about a problem long enough, only going about every
possibility, or reading every opinion online, I'll find a solution and be able to monitor the result.
But none of this works.
A realization came to me that constant anxiety can't give more power over uncontrollable events;
it's only robbing me of the present happiness, draining my energy, and holding me up in the night.
But I find there are better ways of coping with uncertainty — and that starts by changing my
attitude.
By concentrating on the aspects of an issue that I can influence in certain ways, I moved to
constructive problem-solving from being unsuccessful worrying and pondering. Of course, all the
circumstances are different, and I find that my attitude and emotional reaction were all I can
manage in certain situations.
3. Learning to accept uncertainty
I found that when I can do nothing more about a situation, even the most difficult and stressful
ones can still be consciously confronted by my emotions. To help me become more patient and to
manage uncertainty, I was helped by the following steps such as:
a) Identifying my uncertainty triggers : A lot of uncertainty, through excessive worry or
negative outlook, tends to be created by itself. However, external sources may generate some
confusion, especially at times like this. Reading media stories that concentrate on worst-case
scenarios, spending time on social media amid speculation and half-truths or just talking with
nervous friends intensified my own worries and uncertainties. That's why I stopped reading the
negative news and articles and started reading optimistic stories of people achieving and
surviving during this pandemic and how it helped them to think differently about their lives.
b) Allowing myself to feel the uncertainty : Instead of engaging in futile attempts to maintain
power over the uncontrollable, I let the anxiety of confusion come to my own. As other
emotions, I allowed myself to feel fear and anxiety, and I reassured myself that eventually
everything would pass. Responding to what-ifs that went through my mind by saying I'm not
a fortune teller because I don't know what's going to happen. All I can do is let go of the
confusion and embrace it as part of life. The realization has greatly improved me.
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c) Shifting my attention: I concentrated on solvable problems, took action on certain elements
of the issue I was able to manage and then returned to what I was doing. I tried to refocus my
attention on the present moment when my attention drifted back to worrying or feelings of
confusion.
d) Pursuing a balanced lifestyle: To encourage me to stay healthier and to concentrate on things
that have been critical and controllable in my life and have taken some small but crucial steps
to keep me safe, including:
i. Deep breathing techniques: I used to do deep respiratory exercises every day and tried
to set aside time for daily activities every day
ii. Getting Plenty of sleep: My sleep was disrupted by constant concern and confusion and
the lack of quality sleep exacerbated my anxiety and stress. So, I started improving my
daytime habits and took some time to relax and went to bed early so I could sleep better
at night
iii. Eating a healthy diet: I have started eating nutritious meals during this period, helping
me to sustain my energy levels and avoid mood swings
4. Conclusion
It is a stressful time. We are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, with several locations shut
down at least in parts, some trying to reopen safely. In this desperate time the first and foremost
thing I can do for myself is to stay physically and mentally healthy, optimistic and
compassionate. These are the things I've been feeling all the time and I used those feelings to
turn them into lessons that would make me change for the better.