Catastrophe isn’t something anyone wants to invite into their lives. But sometimes it is indeed a part of life and whether we like it or not, it is what carves our features. Crisis is what shapes us most into who we are.
If we ask a survivor of a life threatening disease what he appreciates most about life, it isn’t that higher wages or possessions that comes to mind. It is the disease itself that taught him so much which cannot be explained. It transforms the person into something new, a stronger version of him.
Some of the greatest gifts of our own life haven’t come in bunch of happy packages. In fact, most of them have tested our limits. But it is in those moments that we get to prove what we are made of. We are stronger than we think we are. Later, we realize that those moments are part of the greater plan of our destiny.
How do we best handle this season of catastrophe? What’s important to remember is that the times of crisis make us stronger. Often it takes crisis to shift our value system. With this crisis, humanity will begin to shift it’s values to the invaluable things like family, neighbors, and love.
Let’s Slow Down…
The remedy to the “always busyness” mindset is “slowness”. It may sound funny, but slowing down can be the difference between flourishing and burning out.
We were all in the middle of so many activities that we felt like time no longer had any meaning. When we experience flow with an activity that absorbs us, we find ourselves short of time. Time is relative as they say. It becomes meaningless to measure time because, an hour can seem like second and the memory of an experience can persist for days, sometimes can last for lifetime.
Let’s go with the flow…
According to psychological research, a chess player feels the same way upon entering a state of flow as a mathematician working on a formula or a surgeon performing an operation. Data analyzed from people around the world has discovered that flow is the same among individuals of all ages and cultures.
Right now, it is tough time for everyone. There is fear, loss and all the other things that come with it. Our natural flow is affected and all our existing models are being challenged at once. In order to bring ourselves back to the flow, we have to find ways rather than allowing ourselves to get caught up in these disturbing thoughts.
Sensible leaders grab hold of crisis and change organizational habits. According to me the most interesting people are those who have experienced life on many levels. And those who have seen highs, lows and still overcome to stay the course. And those who utilize conflict not only to the betterment of their own lives but also those of others.
Let’s use our time on this Earth wisely. Our life is a gift. We will prevail.