You studied so hard, burnt the midnight oil and yet you could not make the grade. Your pet dog whom you allowed to sleep on your bed dies. You lose a loved one. Your father loses his job. The list is endless. What do you do when such crisis situations occur? One of the spontaneous reactions is to rant and rave, cry, shout and curse, all the while tearing your hair. Another is to throw your hands in the air and say, “I give up, it’s no use trying.” Yet another would be to withdraw into yourself, stay away from others and sulk and fret.
Maybe some crying would help as it would release your pent-up emotions and make you feel lighter. But it, and none of the others, would not help you to find a solution to the crisis situation. There has to be a long-term, well-planned out strategy for dealing with the problem.
Some of the suggestions listed below might help you in this process:
Accept the reality. Do not go into denial mode pretending that such a thing could not happen to you. Crisis situations can occur in anyone’s life at any time. In fact, they are an integral part of life. They do not discriminate between rich and poor, educated and uneducated. They make no differences as far as your caste, creed, age or nationality is concerned.
Understand the reality in its totality. Try to comprehend fully what has really happened to you or your family. Keep your head cool, try not to get emotionally worked up.
Do not jump to any conclusions in a jiffy. Do not take decisions in a hurry especially when you are emotionally worked up. They may be wrong decisions which you might regret later.
Analyse the causes that led to the occurrence of this situation. While doing this you have to be objective or your reasoning can become distorted. Find out whether this situation arose because something was done or something was left undone.
See if you yourself are responsible for what has happened or is someone else the cause of it? If you have been the cause, do not develop a guilt complex. At the same time, if you have been the cause, do not shift the blame onto someone else. Similarly if someone else is responsible, do not blame yourself for it.
If you find the situation too difficult to handle by yourself, confide in someone. Find someone who will give you a patient hearing, someone who will really listen to you and not pretend that he is listening.
Seek good advice if necessary. Do not be ashamed to seek advice and follow good advice when you receive it.
Try to divert your mind from the situation often. If you keep on dwelling on it all the time, it will appear bigger each time. Try to listen to some good music, find a good book to read, tend to your plants, spend time with your pets etc. In short any hobby or activity that interests you can serve the purpose.
Keep God in your efforts to find a solution to the problem. Pray to him for guidance, courage and strength to deal with the situation. Prayer also helps you to think clearly. It gives you hope and self-confidence.
