Managing
Crisis with Grace
Life often presents
us opportunities for self awareness and reflection in
odd moments: the car breaks down in the middle
of a traffic jam; the project you’ve been pouring
your heart and soul into unexpectedly implodes;
a natural disaster occurs; or something like gas prices
soar overnight. Usually, I regard them with a mixture
of excitement and trepidation. Over the years, my Yoga
practice has taught me that such difficulties are pretty
much just grist for the mill of life. No matter what the
circumstances, I am reminded that life opens from the
inside out, and the quality
of any experience hinges on my personal frame of mind.
When it seems as
if every fiber of our being is cringing in the face of
crises, taking a few good,
slow, deep breaths allows our nervous systems to shift
from a reactive, emotional response to a more rational,
calm approach. Doing so creates space
in the process of receiving the situation. And, we simply
feel better: the knot in our bellies can relax;
our heart rate slows; our muscles relax a bit; and the
furrow of our brow softens, so we can see and feel more
clearly. It is important to remember that most
often, crises do not require
an immediate response. We can and should
take some time to gain perspective before reacting. Once
we check our reactionary response and move in to a calmer
point of view, we can see facts. Facts
are neutral; they are what they are and most times we
simply can’t change what is.
It
is our attitude that defines how we feel.
A key step in managing
life’s challenges is reframing the situation. To
“reframe” means to look at a situation from
a different, more positive perspective. Say,
for instance, that a beloved project you’ve worked
hard on with all your energy for six months suddenly falls
apart. Rather than look
at the situation with anger and frustration as a total
failure and waste of time, regard the circumstance as
an open door to new opportunity. Perhaps
you’ve challenged yourself to develop a new skill
set; perhaps you’ve made valuable contacts and relationships
in the endeavor; maybe you’ve
learned a bit more about how and where to invest your
time, energy and resources most wisely.
What can you do with these new insights, skills and resources?
The door opens widely from this perspective!
Learning
to allow inspired solutions to come to you begins with
letting go. Dead ends, disappointments and setbacks
are part of any project, any process, and
all relationships. Oftentimes, overanalyzing
and overworking a problem doesn’t solve it, but
letting go can because it gives us a new perspective,
and frees vital energy towards growth and change.
If our energy is wrapped too tightly around
a problem, we lose perspective and can enter an insidious
cycle of second-guessing and negativity.
Loosen our grip and, magically, creative solutions appear
and resources are drawn to us. The
process then becomes interesting and exciting rather than
laborious and exhausting.
Every challenge
in life is an opportunity for growth and expansion. Sometimes
the outcome is positive; sometimes
it only yields more of that thorny grist.
Try to remember that moving through the challenges of
life is a process, and that it is a lot easier
to ride the flow of life than to fight its current. Trusting
this process is somewhat of a leap of faith. I’ve
taken that leap time and time again in my own life, and
have never regretted the jump!
Cyndi
Bulka has been practicing Yoga for nearly 20 years and teaching for
more than 10. She opened Moving Mantra Yoga Studio in 1999 to share
with others her eclectic approach to Hatha Yoga, focusing on organic
movement and gentle unfolding from the “inside-out.” 
As
a teacher Cyndi shares her wisdom with students in a manner that is
inviting and simple to comprehend. With extensive experience in the
field of wellness, her knowledge of anatomy, injury and recovery aids
in her ability to help students balance the therapeutic and spiritual
benefits of a continuing Yoga practice.