The Brush Strokes of Crisis

So,  I learned something new this week. In the Chinese language there are two brush strokes that make up the word crisis. One brush stroke means danger and the next brush stroke means opportunity. At one point in a persons life time they will most likely experience one crisis.

When we face a crisis we can respond to it in multiple ways. Some people deal with it the best they can with the help of friends, family, and other resources like religion. Others may deal with it by avoiding the crisis.

In the end all of our actions are due to how we choose to react to the situation. We have to choose how we react. If we let our brain go on autopilot we would be scared, overwhelmed, depressed discouraged.

I have concluded, from my own personal life events, that coping is a necessary skill. Some people cope and adjust really well and others don't. 

A coping saw is a specific saw used in woodworking or carpentry. It is also used to create moldings and joints. This saw allows you to cut very precisely and intricate(make tiny adjustments to make sure you can cut little pieces to fit in the places you need them). Coping on a pool keeps water in, protects you from the sharp edge (being damaged), protects against erosion from the water.

This is why it is important to be aware how we cope with events, stressors, and crisis  through out our life. If we have "good" coping skills we will be able to protect our selves from the damage that can be caused otherwise. 

There are multiple ways a person can cope with a crisis, event, or stressor.  

1. Taking responsibility. This means not just that you will not deny or avoid the problem or blame others but that you will not play the victim game. 
2. Affirm your own and your family's worth. Believe in yourself and your ability to deal with situations. Remind yourself that you and your family are people with strengths and the capacity to cope. 
3. Balance self-concern with other-concern. Take responsibility for your own well-being and serve one another. 
4. Learn the art of reframing. To reframe means to change your perspective on a situation. Redefine something you had defined as troublesome as adaptive and useful.   
5. Find and use available resources. There are a number of external resources that one can turn to in a time of need. These may include family members, religious beliefs, and counselors.  

In the end, it really does matter how we react to a situation. Our actions determine this. It is up to us on how we are going to cope with a stressor/crisis. So, let us act instead of being acted upon when it comes to a stressor or crisis. Cope the best way you know how using all your available resources.  

Turn the crisis into an opportunity instead of a danger.