Hit Rock Bottom? – Don’t Let Panic Paralyze You

Back in May, we did a post – Why Hitting Rock Bottom is the Best Thing that Happened to Me – which became one of our most popular articles.  Many of you wrote in saying how you could relate to the article.

Recently I have been getting a lot of compliments from friends and family about my ability to stay calm and thinking proactively amidst situations where others quickly panic.  “This wasn’t me – a couple of years ago,” I found myself thinking.  I now find myself strangely, even inhumanly calm in many situations where one should really panic.  I consider it a gift – even a badge of honor, that I wear with pride.  I am now in a situation to offer my advice, support, and guidance (however minuscule or inadequate) to people who find themselves in situations of panic and desperation.

Many of you get upset when I stay calm – and offer logical, proactive steps towards the solution of the problem, rather then a celebration of it.  You see, to me, when we complain, and rant about a problem – without doing anything to solve it, all we are doing is celebrating the problem.  We let our problems paralyze us and take over our minds, souls, and bodies.  So what to do in situations of great panic?

1.  Take a moment to panic.  But just a small moment.  This is when you will sit down and realize that you have a problem.  It’s okay in this moment to get upset and even cry if you need to.  Call a friend and family member and rant.  This is the only moment you are allowed to do this.  Some panic is essential to us, as it can provide us the motivation to find and develop solutions.

2.  Get over your panic and let logic sink back in.  Okay, so you had your  moment of great worry – and guess what?  The problem is still there.  Huh?  What a surprise that is?  Your panic didn’t solve the problem, did it?  Now, sit down with a pen and paper – and brainstorm about some options you might have to solve your problem.  Write down everything – even solutions that seem impossible or out of reach at this moment.

3.  Ok, so your problem is still there – but I can guarantee that you are feeling a bit better now that you have written some solutions down – even if they are imagery ones.  Now, every time you feel the panic creeping back in – take out your list of solutions and see what one thing you can work on to ease your worries and be closer to a solution.

Yes – I understand that your problems are big – and might even seem impossible at this time – but think about all your past problems that seemed so huge at the time.  You got through them somehow didn’t you?  Don’t get paralyzed – stay in control.  This way, even when you call on family and friends for help, or to vent, they will be more willing to help you.  People are more willing to help those that will be able to benefit from the help.  If you are paralyzed with doubt and self-pity, there is little anyone else can do for you.

Good Luck.

The Universe Guru