Crisis as opportunity

The whole word “crisis” connotes immediacy, panic, and imminent harm; it’s a call to action of sorts. Wouldn’t it be nice to experience a crisis in a different light? What if there was another side to every crisis that was previously unexplored- a side that is the complete opposite of what the word crisis suggests.  There is that other side, and it’s called opportunity.

Here’s why:  in every life situation, be it personal, spiritual, health, or business, or any combination of the above, what we perceive as a bleak situation, or a crisis, actually contains the seeds for the very opposite. We just have to perceive it that way.  The reason we perceive things one way is our limited scope, and the tendency of our minds to want to put everything in a neat little category. But the reality is much bigger, and every so-called crisis contains the seeds of an opportunity in polar opposite to how we often perceive it. The converse is true too. Just as when we are riding high on some jolt of good news, we can easily push our good fortune into a bad thing when we offend someone or over-indulge in the fruits of our luck. All it takes is a second to switch gears and flip from bad to good, or good to bad. When we are really open, the big picture reveals the presence of good and bad in every situation because the universe is perfectly balanced. It’s our perceptions that get skewered in one direction or another.  Here’s where free will can really make a difference, by keeping us open. Also, seeing crisis as opportunity is greatly aided by regular spiritual practice/physical activities:  this facilitates an open mind, encourages gratitude for just being alive, and maintains the core strength needed to make and sustain these shifts. And every crisis, whether health, financial, or personal,  is really a litmus test for our emotional makeup, and whether we will react in a patterned way, or accept and deal with the situation in a calm state mindful of the big picture. 

Health crisis:  Every “dis-ease” contains the fruits of healing.  For many people, being diagnosed  as having a disease often induces crisis or panic, but it can also bring the opportunity to have a much healthier life, and open up all kinds of healing modalities previously unexplored. Also, every disease creates the opportunity to explore what part our own actions or emotions played in developing a physical imbalance.  Health and disease exists simultaneously in each of us all the time. These polarities are not fixed, but are entirely fluid. Our perception, energy, and action controls which mode we are in at any given moment.

Work/business crisis:  There are many challenges on this front in these fast changing times. Again, perception, energy, and action will control whether a change in one’s business life is a crisis or an opportunity.  For somebody stuck in a secure but un-fulfilling job, being let go can be perceived as a crisis. Another person in the same situation can perceive this as opportunity: a dream can now be pursued. I have seen people re-invent themselves with little cost taking advantage of all the new technology available. I have seen others held back by any number of factors, even when they clearly have considerable talent to move forward. 

Personal crisis:  The loss of a loved one, or the end of a satisfying relationship, can be perceived as crisis. Thoughts arise such as attachments, fear of replacing that person, loneliness, or even depression. It is understandable that the loss of a loved one is a huge challenge, especially when the person is the center of your life for a long time. Feeling this loss is unavoidable, something that I completely understand, having been through this myself more than once. But here’s where free will kicks in again. After a suitable mourning period, the void can be filled by any number of new persons, things or experiences. Again, it comes down to the type of energy you apply, using perception, choice, and action.