Have you been laid off? Are you facing an illness? Is your relationship on its last legs? A crisis ... we all face it at different times in our lives. But how can you use such a crisis as an opportunity to get something positive out of it?
Often people find change very unpleasant, to say the least. Especially in the area of work and income, it affects our security: "Am I still going to be able to pay my bills?" or "I shouldn't make do with less, should I? These are all fears that cause us to cling to what we have. Moreover, we almost automatically resist when all of this is threatened.
CRISIS OR NOT?
How you look at a situation determines the experience of it. The meaning you give to it makes it an ordinary change ... or a crisis.
- How do you respond?
- Do you find it very annoying?
- Is panic beating around the heart?
- Are you keeping a tight rein on your wallet?
- Do you react with anger and frustration?
- Do you withdraw displeased?
Or do you rather think how to turn these changes into an opportunity?
Are you open to giving your life that new direction it apparently needs?
NO FEAR OR ANGER
Crisis is resistance to change. Crisis can feel like being forced, being pushed into something you don't want. By wanting things to stay the way they were, you fail to see various opportunities. For example: that the change will allow you to be more yourself or do something that suits you better.
Lingering in fear and/or anger is not effective or helpful. Resistance then leads to stagnation, to missing opportunities. By facing the fear and anger, movement can resume and a turning point is possible. With deliberate effort, you can see the various possibilities that change brings!
9 TIPS TO COUNTER A CRISIS MORE CREATIVELY, OPENLY AND WITH A GREATER SENSE OF INNOVATION
- Signal
Look at the "crisis" as a signal. Apparently the time has come for something different. Take your time to get clear on what this signal means to you. - Invest in yourself
Inventing the wheel yourself is no longer necessary. You can get ahead faster, more enjoyably and more expertly with the help of others. Investing in yourself includes buying that one book, taking that online training, reaching out to a coach, investing in an education. Change often requires new knowledge and skills. Give it to yourself, otherwise you are making difficult what could be easier. - Stop your fears
Examine what makes you anxious: "What makes me not want this situation?", "What am I afraid of?", "What is the worst thing that could happen?". Put your fear in a different perspective. Is it really true what you are all thinking? Could the opposite perhaps also be true? Are there people who have gone through the same situation positively? If one person can do it, so can you! - Reflection
Always think:
⇒ What opportunities are there in this situation?
⇒ What would you like to see different?
⇒ How can you still make the best of it?
⇒ Can you maybe even make it better?
Dwell on this for a moment, without initially worrying about the exact consequences and/or causes. These questions will help you redirect your own life from resistance and - usually also from a position of victimization! - Let a light shine on yourself
Research what your qualities and talents are, what you really want. If you need help with that at the career level, there are subsidized opportunities through career vouchers. A list of organizations can be found at www.vdab.be. - Dismantle impeding patterns
Wanting to move in a new direction also means bumping into that which is holding you back. Your own limiting ideas often translate into external circumstances. "It's not possible because of the kids," "It won't work out in this time of crisis," "My employer is never going to want it. These thoughts don't help you move forward. Learn to dismantle your limiting patterns. They are usually only true because you want to keep taking them for true. - Give space to emotions
Can't you see it? Do you feel disappointment? Not feeling like it? Anxious? Insecure? Pay attention to this. Allow the emotion to dissolve. This will create space for something new. - Innovative ideas come from the heart
Listen to your heart; it gives you valuable information. Scientific research has shown that your heart has qualities that can lead to surprising and positive results. Your heart is able to inspire you to your most fulfilling, optimal path. - Hang in there, you can do it
Once you've figured out what you want, make a plan. Look for opportunities and make the steps to get there concrete. What is the first step you could take? Change also requires courage and perseverance. Keep a positive image of your future in mind. It can only get better!