The world
seems to be in Crisis we have economic, terrorist, and energy crisis.
If you have gotten caught up with the media blitz of all that's going
wrong in the world you may also be feeling as if your life is in
turmoil as well. There is a Chinese proverb that says 'in each crisis
there is great danger and opportunity.' I'd like to share with you an
acronym for crisis that may help transform future perils into profits
its — CR-ICES.
I, have worked with some of the most battered clients from drug
addicts, to abused children, to hospice patients. Often they have been
described as hopeless cases. I have always found a glimmer of hope and
the possibility of catharsis in these people. Catharsis means the
ability to achieve a renewed self after dealing with trauma. I have met
many hospice patients who after hearing the news they were dying
discovered a renewed passion for life. It's important to remember in
our own moments of crisis that we can have a cathartic change that will
renew our spirits.
As a therapist I have subscribed to the belief that people are
resilient. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from adversity.
I'll never forget the Native American youngster that came to me for
help arranging a traditional healing ceremony following the tragic
death of a friend. This young man had struggled with school, drug use,
and childhood neglect, despite all this he had a strong connection with
his cultural traditions and was able to recognize what he needed to
cope with his own grief. His story demonstrates the power of
resiliency. We may not all glide through life, but if we remember our
innate ability to be resilient we may find the strength to bounce back
from some our most challenging of times.
It may take years for some of the most damaged individuals to recognize
their own destructive behaviors, but only seconds to experience the
catharsis that creates insight and a willingness to change. Insight is
the ability to recognize the true nature of a situation. I used to
prescribe the "I can't - I can experiment" to teach drug addicts how
destructive their own negative thoughts were on their moods and
personal energy. I describe this exercise in my book Happiness in Five
Minutes a day. Once these addicts developed the insight on the damaging
effects of negative thinking they were able to take the necessary
actions they needed to change.
I have dealt with my own share of difficulties, growing up I had
trouble in school, the law, and struggled with alcohol and drug abuse.
Thankfully I sobered up in my early twenties. Throughout the early days
of my recovery from drugs I realized that it was the tools I used
consistently day in and day out that helped me maintain my abstinence
from drugs. Each morning I would start my day with a reflection, use
affirmations throughout, and end my days with gratitude. Consistency
means being reliable or predictable. As I achieved longer and longer
periods of abstinence, returned to college, and launched my career I
was repeatedly amazed at the benefits of doing simple techniques
consistently.
A classic insight I had early in my recovery was when I realized I
needed to get in shape. I didn't know anything about exercise my idea
of exercise was curling beer cans. As a result I decided to start by
doing one minute of exercise three times a week. My rational was for
exercise to work for me it had to be Effortless. I couldn't start out
with the complex exercise routine I do now, I had to start out with the
rudiments of getting fit, and build up. What I discovered from my one
minute exercise goal was in little or no time I had developed a habit
of exercising 30 minutes three times a week.
Over the years I have tried many self-enrichment activities, from
meditation, goal planning, guided imagery, dream analysis, shamanism,
and the list goes on, but I often found them to be time consuming. I'm
a family man, work full-time & own a home. I rarely have had
the time to dedicate more than a couple of minutes a day to
extracurricular activities. Sure I've tried but always at the sacrifice
of some other aspect of my life. What has worked for me has been using
aspects of self-help activities in small increments at Strategic times
throughout the day. Just like the early phase of my recovery, doing
these activities strategically during the beginning, middle, and end of
each day promoted my success.
Next time you are faced with a crisis think about the potential
opportunity by remembering the acronym CR-ICES. Perils are likely to
produce a Cathartic outcome. You are a Resilient person who can and
will bounce back. All you have to do is to have Insight, and use
self-enrichment tools Consistently. Strive to make these techniques
Effortless, and use them at Strategic times throughout your day, and in
no time at all you will discover a renewed spirit and vigor for life.
By remembering to use CR-ICES you'll discover you'll have a simple
solution towards some of your world's troubling problems. ###
Visit the author's website at:
http://www.happinessinfive.com
FEATURE: Michael Michalko, 100 Monkeys 
