Crisis Management: Coping With Problems
Standing at the scene of an airplane crash in Columbia, when I worked as a crisis manager for a major airline, I realized that every crisis I had up until that moment was insignificant. I felt the pain of family members in search of their loved ones and it was so traumatic that I couldn't contain it. After talking to them and consoling them as much as possible, I took an elevator to the highest floor in the hotel and vomited in a plant.
We all face a crisis of some sort in life. It might be small, in the grand scheme of things, or it might be larger, but a crisis is never welcomed. It may be the death of a parent, or family member, or it might be an unexpected job loss, health crisis, or financial stress. Crisis isn't fun, and often we're so caught up in the things of life that we are unprepared to deal with a tragedy when it comes.
Drawing from Great Examples
Deep valleys are as much a part of life as the highest of joyful mountains, and it's important to remember this when the difficult times come. Handling crisis is much more about how you deal with those things, than whether or not they come. Everyone's life is filled with ups and downs. How will you manage them?
Luckily we have a lot of great examples of afflicted men and women to draw from. Maybe it's your aunt Mary that comes to mind. Or someone else who struggled and survived. Or perhaps it's Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, or someone else who suffered but then prevailed.
Taking the Bad With the Good
In second Corinthians Paul wrote: "I will take pleasure in my infirmities." Can you imagine that? Taking pleasure in the bad cards you have been dealt in life, as much as the good? A joyful attitude can surely be counted among the greatest assets. But how are we, fleshly humans, moms who've been spit up on and overloaded, to be able to take pleasure in it all?
Remember that gold has to be purified, before it shines. Like a beautiful golden nugget, you're simply being tested, purified, and challenged, before you can become all you're intended to be. Think of trials as a normal part of life. Accept them, embrace them, and carry on. Let go of unforgiveness and bitterness, and be all you were created to be.
What do you do when you are faced with an unexpected crisis in your life? What terrible things have you had to overcome in your life, to come out to be the person you are today?
Tammy Kling is a life coach, advocate for the homeless, and international author of 29 books including The Compass. She's the mom of two boys, an avid trail and mountain runner, blogger, and adventure travel writer.
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