How to Respond to Crisis.

 

              How to Respond to Crisis.

Sooner or later, crisis is going to hit us. It’s not a matter of if, but when. We’ve all had a taste of it before and we will again, because that’s life. How we respond to crisis, is what makes us, or breaks us. 

Crisis helps us refine our focus and brings us to an understanding of what’s truly important in our life. 

Being challenged in life is inevitable. Being                        defeated is optional.

In times of crisis, we need to step back and look at the big picture, knowing many have been here before and many have moved past it. To move past crisis, we need to ask the right questions and we need to allow ourselves time to grieve, cry, or curl up in a ball. 

During times of crisis, it’s fine to be stoic however, give yourself permission in the quiet times, to understand and process where you are. Work out what you need to help you recover and heal and what you need to do, to advance past this point.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many of your friends, family and colleagues are only too happy to help and support at this time. 

Come together as a family and renew old relationships, that have been lost due to busy schedules. Oftentimes it’s our family and oldest friends; those who know us best, which are our greatest support.

  Learn how to turn suffering into hope and then pass it on to someone else who needs it.

Remember in life, there’s always others who’ve gone through what you’re going through. Look up on you tube, or read books, on how others overcame their crisis. Learn from those who’ve been through it. Learn what they did, which helped them navigate through the turbid waters.

Sometimes it helps, to sew into others. It takes your mind off the issue at hand and you feel more useful and productive, than if you stay home and wallow in self-pity. Self-pity doesn’t help anything, least of all the healing process.

By all means, have a pity party, if you feel you need it, but give yourself a time limit and then get on with the act of living. And don’t expect, once the crisis is over, that you’re done with it. 

From time to time, feelings of rage, loss and depression may come to the fore. Expect it, allow for it and have some coping mechanisms in place, to help you deal with it, when those feelings arise.

Asking the right questions, isn’t about sitting at the pity party table saying woe is me, but in asking; what’s the next step? What can I do from here? Who do I need to see/speak to? What is the best thing for me, to move past this point and get on with my life?

Don’t take on additional responsibilities at this time. If at all possible, maintain your routine, but try to reduce your responsibilities and lighten your load. This will free up some time, so you can roll up your sleeves and get to work, by empowering yourself with knowledge and the confidence you need to move forward. 

  Today’s struggle is tomorrow’s strength. 

Also, it’s not selfish to do what you want, particularly now. Give yourself permission to be a little selfish, if that’s what you feel you need. Take a little time for yourself. Watch a movie, read a book, have a bubble bath.

Ideally, we want to thrive, in the face of loss. We want to stand strong and with resolve. Being well armed in what we need, will aid in doing that. It might even bring an air of excitement, knowing change is coming.  

With crisis, it does end and we do eventually move past it, although it doesn’t feel like in the moment. It may not feel like it at the time, but one day you’ll be on the other side of it and all the stronger as a person, for it.  

One day, you’ll see the foggy clouds of depression and loss disappear and the sun will rise and shine brightly in your life again. And one day, you’ll be able to help another, who’s going through the same crisis. It’s at this point you’ll know, you’ve made it though and you’ll see; your time of crisis, wasn’t the end of the world.