Grief and Loss: How to Make the Most of Life During a Crisis Period- GUEST BLOGGER Life Coach Susan Liddy
Guest Blogger Susan Liddy
To Readers of the MMD Blog-Life Coach Susan Liddy is my guest blogger today. Susan Liddy, MA, PCC, CPCC is the founder and CEO of AspireLifeCoaching.org, a life coaching company on a mission to empower women globally. Susan is the author of the “Secrets to Ultimate Living; What you wish you knew when you were 20!” and an active contributor to many blogs, including her own blog, SecretsToUltimateLiving.com. Here is her advice about handling a crisis….
How to Make the Most of Life During a Crisis Period
Life isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes we get fired or laid off from our jobs, must say goodbye to our partners, lose family members to illness or accident, or face financial troubles or other hardships. At these times, it’s all too easy to simply want to give up. Just stop trying and bury our heads under the covers, never to be seen again.
The fact is that life goes on, and that we will experience many ups and downs, joys and sorrows over the course of our time on planet Earth. Troubled times are here as a test of our personal constitution and a way to sharpen our survival skills. We experience the most growth during times of adversity or hardship. This is what gives us the strength and wisdom to keep going, to experience life to the fullest, to find beauty in the unexpected and to hold onto the hope that things will get better in time.
Some thoughts to keep in mind if you’re facing a rough patch: 1. Love and support sometimes comes when you least expect it.
This is why it’s so important not to “curl up and disappear” during those low periods. If you can’t find what you need from friends you know, reach out to someone new. Reach out; let your needs be known. You may just be surprised at who and what comes to your aid. Also, surround yourself with the people who love you and allow them to take care of you when they offer it.
2. This experience is meant to serve you. All of our experiences in life serve a purpose. During times of strife, however possible, embrace the possibility that everything happens for a reason. We don’t always like the feelings associated with the challenges in our lives, yet moments of peace can be found and cultivated when we can gather together all of the life lessons and blessings embedded within our experience.
3. Older people can help you learn from their experiences. A great example of this is the current economic crisis we are experiencing today (2010). Many of us have grandparents who persevered through The Great Depression and thus have creative ways to stretch their income. They can teach us tricks for improving the quality of our lives using simple means. Reaching out to others and asking about their personal life experiences can add a richness to your life that you never thought possible.
4. Revel in the simple pleasures. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not so much the expensive home we lived in, the fast car we drove, the gourmet food that graced our table or the exotic vacations we took. Rather, the best times are those little moments when we experience simple pleasures and deep connections with people we care about. No matter what crisis you’re facing, take a moment each day to reflect on all you’ve been blessed with. Remember the people who bring meaning to your life.
5. Finally, remember that the answers are within YOU. Often during times of crisis we simply want to know “why” and how we will go on. Although many people in your life can give you positive support, nobody can tell you how to feel, how to heal, who to love or how to live. In Robert Frost’s poem, he speaks of The Road Less Traveled and how taking it “has made all the difference.” We are all individuals with unique wants, needs, loves, talents, and ways of expressing ourselves. If you want to be happy, even in times of trouble, as you surround yourself with those you love remember to look inward for the healing that you seek. You will surely find it.
About the Author/Guest Blogger: Life Coach Susan Liddy, MA, PCC, CPCC is the founder and CEO of AspireLifeCoaching.org, a life coaching company on a mission to empower women globally. Susan is the author of the “Secrets to Ultimate Living; What you wish you knew when you were 20!” and an active contributor to many blogs, including her own blog, SecretsToUltimateLiving.com. Click here to get FREE access to Susan’s Passages to Empowerment video series: http://videos.passagestoempowerment.com
Thank you Susan!