An Interpretation of the Meaning of "Crisis"
Years ago my
tai chi teacher said these
Chinese characters represent "Crisis," the top
character a symbol for "Danger;" the bottom character
a
symbol for "Opportunity."
This interpretation is referred
to as "inaccurate pseudo-profundity" by
Victor H Mair,
Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at the University
of Pennsylvania.
Nonetheless, I
believe most crises provide an opening for growth, no matter how
fearful the circumstances, a belief Mair labels as
"a type of muddled thinking that... lulls people into welcoming crises as unstable situations
from which they can benefit... Adopting a feel-good attitude toward adversity
may not be the most rational, realistic approach to its solution."
But
Mair's rational approach is only one part of the
human equation.
We grow emotionally
and spiritually from crisis. That's not the same as a "feel-good
attitude" and certainly doesn't mean we should welcome crisis.
However, many people I've coached who've undergone divorce,
bankruptcy, cancer, divorce, etc., have said it was the best
thing that ever happened to them – because it stopped the
treadmill they were on and forced them to look at what really
matters in a relatively short lifetime.
