How to overcome a crisis?

What is a crisis? Originally, the word derives from the ancient Greek verb "krinein", whose meaning is to judge to make a decision and whose noun "krisis" means judgment, decision. In turn, the term also implies separation and discernment.

The word Crisis designates the moment in which there is a very marked change in something or in a situation. And, according to its etymology, it is a moment in which it is necessary to decide, evaluate, discern and judge. If we analyze it from this perspective, a crisis is an opportunity for change and for making decisions about how to continue.

The crisis confronts us with a breaking point, where the previous structures stop working. New ones must be created and something in the dynamics that were taking place must be transformed.

 “I am in crisis” is usually a phrase that generates a certain impact, but it is precisely those moments that allow change and progress. If we think of "Overcoming" a crisis, we have to know that the only way this can be possible is through it. Crises must be transited. You have to cross the threshold to know what's on the other side. And in these steps, there is often anguish, a feeling of loneliness, chaos, anxiety, and fear. These passages or drastic changes are like births. The passage from one instance to another generates commotion.

Going through the anguish and the sensation of chaos is very important to be able to later reorganize ourselves and direct the path. 

In today's society, we sometimes seek to avoid crises and everything that reminds us of dark aspects or emotions. Avoiding the crisis or pretending to continue as if nothing had happened, we resist those changes that are manifesting. We cling to the past, which gives us protection and security. 

Crises potentially allow us to discover new aspects of ourselves and help us discover new possibilities.

A crisis can be a move, love or friendship breakup, quitting a job, a change in life stage, the death or estrangement of a loved one, having a son or daughter, or it can also be an internal event: come to an important recognition of unconscious aspects, find a nodal point in therapy. Whatever it is, crises confront us with an almost complete shake-up of reality as we knew it. Everything changes perspective and initially we do not know where to locate ourselves.

Overcoming the crisis implies going through these gray spaces, working on our position, creating a new one that can recognize and at the same time build that new reality. 

The word Overcoming is sometimes misleading because it seems to imply that it is about jumping an obstacle, as in a sports event. However, the crisis is worked on, assimilated, in a transformation process from which a whole new situation results, also transforming us along the way.

The crisis is sometimes a dark or difficult place. The chaos, the confusion… without which the path to clarity cannot be found. In many cases, it is advisable to go through crises with professional containment or accompaniment, which allows us to sustain that moment of uncertainty in a better way. 

 

Thank You