'Rational world', huh, I hear you say, what is that? We are waaaaaay past that one! If you had any doubts about that previously, surely the current situation would be more than enough to convince you. Well, yes, I guess, somehow that seems to be the case. But, really, does it have to be this way? Have you ever wondered what would happen to the news - and your mental health - if you and others were able to apply some fundamental concepts borrowed from financial literacy? 

Let's play a thought-experiment. You know how you choose 'x' when you want to solve an equation and there is an unknown? Well, most of you will, others, just bear with me. This is what you want to know, what you are looking for, what will determine the outcome, what will be your solution. Now, let's use this concept to the overwhelming majority of the coronavirus news: articles on major news websites, statistics, questions from reporters, etc.

It seems the 'x', the thing most people want to know - or maybe just what people think grabs the most attention - is the number of deaths, the damage, the suffering, etc. How macabre is that? Is that really that 'solves this equation'? And - here is another concept - is that really representative of the whole? Just how would a rational analysis of any financial or other situation stand up if one component part were to be so overbearing that all other parts were to be ignored or, even worse, suppressed. 

And (sorry goddess of literacy, I know we don't start a sentence with 'and' but indulge me for effect) before I get accused and skewered for being insensitive to all those suffering from this nasty virus, let me just roll out the final financial literacy concept: balancing things out. My plea is to keep both sides of the hypothetical equation in mind: give the attention grabbing figures and negative impacts by all means but, at the same time place it into perspective of the overwhelming majority who survive or are not impacted and the herculean efforts of - again - the majority who are trying to minimise the economic damage. 

I know you are all out there, the reasonable and rational ones. Until the voice of reason returns, just keep calm and carry on demystifying the world through a little bit of financial literacy.  :-)