Times of crisis – on the physical, mental and emotional levels – are an inevitable part of life. If we allow the bumps on the road to define us, however, our lives can be thrown entirely off track. The key is to prepare yourself for anything that may come, and deal with situations as effectively as you can when they arise.
One way to get yourself in a calm, focused state, from which you will have the best tools to handle anything that comes your way, is to get into the habit of meditating regularly. Meditation, including deep breathing and mindfulness, can bring you into a present mindset, helping you to be ready to deal with anything.
Meditation can also give you the skills to accept life events as they occur, and adapt accordingly. It may be worth it to seek out guided meditation sessions in your area – they are often donation based.
Whatever type of crisis you are facing, it is important to get some mental distance from the situation, and assess it accordingly. Does your crisis require immediate emergency action? If so, lay out the steps in your mind and execute them, staying as calm as possible.
If your crisis is of a different sort, such as a family-wide emotional situation, it may be very difficult to determine the steps to take every day so that you and those around you can heal. You may feel pressured to be strong for others, neglecting your own feelings. The courageous thing to do, however, is to make sure to take care of yourself as well, so that you can do what you need to do for your family.
Another important aspect of facing any type of crisis is reaching out for help. Unless you are way out in the wilderness, there are usually others around that can relate – and maybe your crisis affects many members of the family or community. Asking for help when you need it, and offering support to others, are two of the bravest things you can do to help everyone affected.
Don’t forget that after a crisis, many people can greatly benefit from counseling, or support groups, to deal with all of the emotional upheaval that these life events often cause. Monitoring your stress levels and releasing pent-up feelings is crucial to returning to the best state of well-being possible after something traumatic occurs.
-The Alternative Daily
