Prabowo's Personal Coping Mechanisms: Swimming, Sleeping, and Reading

Prabowo Subianto has identified swimming as his favourite method of ‘healing’ amidst his current busy schedule as the President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 period.

“What is healing? Swimming. Swimming is very important to me. It is meditation in the water,” he stated during the ‘Presiden Prabowo Menjawab’ programme, as reported on Friday (18/9).

He subsequently cited research indicating that swimming serves as a form of meditation for humans. Prabowo noted that this is linked to the human life cycle, specifically the period spent in the womb protected by fluid, such as the amniotic fluid surrounding a foetus during pregnancy.

“When we are tired or stressed, we take a bath, right? Especially if we swim, according to psychologists,” said the Chairman of the Gerindra Party’s Board of Trustees.

In addition to swimming, Prabowo mentioned that sleeping and reading books are other methods he uses for relaxation. He noted that he optimises his time by sleeping whenever possible, even if only for a short duration.

He also mentioned that he is someone who can fall asleep easily. “I read and I sleep. When there is time to sleep, I sleep, whether it is for 10, 15, or 20 minutes. I can sleep in a car, in a helicopter, or in an aeroplane,” he said.

During the session, Prabowo also shared that one of his favourite reading genres is history, admitting his passion for the subject. He mentioned one of his favourite books is titled ‘Warrior of the Light’ by the Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho.

“The book is not very thick, it is thin; it was written by a Brazilian, Paulo Coelho, ‘Warrior of the Light’,” he said.

Prabowo expressed great admiration for the book, stating that it is deeply connected to his life. He remarked that while reading it, it felt as though Coelho was speaking directly to him.

He recalled first discovering the book when it was given to him by his sister, Maryani Djojohadikusumo, in the early 2000s.

“I was at what could be called my lowest point; I had just stepped down in 98/99, I was accused of all sorts of things—coups, this and that, kidnappings—I was at my lowest point,” said the former TNI officer, who holds the rank of Honorary General, during his tenure as Minister of Defence in the previous administration.