Impact of Crisis

When one is in a crisis, forever is a very long time.

I keep thinking about this statement as images of bombed out buildings, mass graves, and huge evacuations in countries at war.  I can honestly say that I have no comprehension of having my entire life and community – home, school, work, family, friends and neighbors – destroyed.  Add the elements of inhospitable weather, no food or water, precarious shelter, on-going air raid sirens, and the constant fear for self and loved ones: the picture is not pretty.   

When a country is in turmoil the inhabitants go into survival mode and make short term goals (getting across the street safely) and short time frames (I need to get into this shelter for tonight).  The short-term focus on shelter and food are consistent with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in which food and shelter come first.  The key objective to just stay alive. Once people are safe and out of crisis, they can start concentrating on the longer-term goals of housing, work, and reuniting with loved ones. 

As a coach, it is important to determine where a client is and meet him/her in that space. If someone is in total crisis mode, trying to create long term goals is not productive.