I believe those of us who have gone through serious hardships become, in some cosmic way, related. We form a tribe of battle veterans and fellow pilgrims filled with knowledge none of us wanted. And although the admission to the club is unexpected and painful, the people you meet once you are there and the person you become will be with you forever.
Crises can rip away our sense of control and shake our beliefs to the core, leaving us feeling stranded in unfamiliar territory. The Gift of Crisis: Finding your best self in the worst of times is a practical and inspirational guide for individuals going through medical, interpersonal, or professional crises and their caregivers.
Dr. Susan J. Mecca, is a psychologist with over 35 years of experience, shows us how to tap into our greatest strengths, persevere through our most difficult times, and find the potential gifts that a crisis can bring. Brimming with real-life examples, tools and proven strategies, The Gift of Crisis maps out a way to navigate through the impossible and heart-breaking events in our lives. It inspires us to bring forth the best of ourselves in order to overcome the challenges we face and uncover the possibilities for personal growth or transformation.
Through each of the six stages of a crisis, specific and actionable steps are provided so that we can:
• Stay grounded and centered
• Cultivate a positive mindset
• Utilize personal and professional resources
• Create and maintain a community of support
• Make effective decisions under pressure
• Set priorities and boundaries
• Cope with fear and anxiety
• Work through grief
• Prevent burnout
• Recognize and foster personal, spiritual and professional growth
A beautifully written, very personal book about finding the gold in the crucible of a crisis, written not to just help you find the strength to survive but to thrive. --Harry H. Harrison Jr., best-selling author of Father to Son, Father to Daughter, Life Lessons on Raising a Boy, and Mother to Daughter
It is a gift to discover that our crises open us to love, to wisdom, and to new lives of deeper service. Knowing that changes everything. But surviving the journey-- from the initial shock to regaining your balance to reemergence requires guidance from fellow pilgrims. Susan Mecca is a well-traveled and deeply gifted pilgrim on the perilous mountain trail of life. She is a guide. Take her with you. She'll see you through. --Michael Lerner, Founder and president of Commonweal and author of Choices in Healing: Integrating the best of conventional and complementary approaches to cancer.
