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Crisis as Opportunity
We've heard of politicians and businessmen turning a crisis into opportunity. A scandal can be made into a public relations prospect; bankruptcy can be a signal to exploit other competitive advantages. If anything, the world is filled with stories of people who are resilient: able to bounce from adversity. Great turnarounds are not impossible.
The same can be said of crises that are emotional in nature. While no one in their right mind would deliberately court a crisis -- we all need stability to grow -- this doesn't mean that we cannot profit from them in some way. In fact, sometimes what we can gain from a crisis situation in our life is way more than what we lose.
Take the case of a marriage rattled by infidelity as an example. For some couples, infidelity is a signal for marital dissolution. For other couples however, the infidelity is a symptom that one or both of them need help. Perhaps they have a communication problem that they were not aware of. Perhaps they fell apart for lack of effort. But because of the crisis brought about by unfaithfulness, they had an opportunity to take an honest look at their marriage and diagnose what they were not doing well.
What are crises?
First off, let us define what crisis means. What separates a crisis from an ordinary concern or problem?
Primary distinction of a crisis is its gravity. It has more emotional and even physical impact to the person experiencing it compared to ordinary problems. It is a point when a person's experience of a problem seems to exceed his coping resources. Thus a crisis is experienced as difficult, painful and potentially hopeless.
Note that what constitute a crisis differ from person to person. What may be a crisis situation to one person may not be a crisis situation to another. Take break-ups for example. Some consider a break-up as a crisis situation, others do not. The intensity of the impact of a particular situation on the person depends on the factors like the specifics of the situation, upbringing, personality and history. The crisis is the reaction to the situation -- not the situation itself.
Some crises are long in the making; they can be little problems we've ignored over the years but now have escalated into bigger proportions. If you are ignoring a drinking problem for example, you may later find that it has one day progressed to a full-blown addiction. Other crises are unexpected ones. They came with critical incidents: a fire, a disaster, an accident and a job lay-off. These emergencies can be so traumatic that it is normal that it takes years to move on from them. They do not affect just our person but our support systems as well.
Grace in Crisis
You may be going through a crisis right now. It is no doubt a difficult time. The following are some principles that may help you turn crises into opportunities.
1. Crises are moments that call for a change.
By definition, a crisis is a turning point. It is that point in our life when we are called into action and what we do at this point can either make things significantly better or significantly worse.
Sometimes a change, regardless how small, can make a huge difference already. As long as you keep moving forward, even in small increments, you can come back a stronger person. Sometimes however, crises call for us to make not just any change but radical change. Determine then what are the things that you have to let go and what are the things that you have to welcome. This evaluation can help you navigate this season in your life better.
As an old proverb goes "Fate sometimes nudges you to change by throwing a pebble at your head. But if you do not listen, fate would have to hit you with a boulder."
2. Crisis moments are the best time to change.
Even if they need urgent attention, very rarely do we address problems until we come to that point when we've hit rock-bottom. More so, in days when we're complacent, we make decisions with our heads but not with our hearts.
Crisis moments therefore are the best moments to make resolutions because our motivation to change is high. Usually our emotions are affected and invested at this time. Resolutions made in moments of crises tend to be followed through better.
3. Crisis moments are moments of psycho-spiritual integration.
A man survived a natural disaster that took all the houses in his village. He had always been a rather self-centered fellow who took very little effort in getting to know his neighbors. The crisis of losing all made him understand the importance of community. His resolution that day to exert effort to be part of his neighborhood from that point was well-followed through. The dramatic way he had to learn it reinforced the importance of the lesson.
Because crises jar us of our usual complacency, it makes us take stock of not just the problem at hand but the bigger picture as well. It makes us take stock of our lifestyle and general outlook in life. It makes us take a look at how we relate to others and even to God.
Take this opportunity to explore existential issues. The way to navigate a crisis is to explore its meaning. What does suffering mean? What does letting go and letting God mean? During moments of crises we might find support in the most unexpected places.