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How to Be Strong in Times of Crisis? 7 Recommendations

In times of crisis, being a resilient person is essential. This article presents seven practical strategies for dealing with difficult times.

By:
Pepe Villatoro
September 20, 2024
How to Be Strong in Times of Crisis?

In times of crisis, our true strength is tested and we reveal who we really are. Being a resilient and strong person is not just about being able to withstand adversity; it is about developing the natural ability to adapt, learn and grow from difficult experiences. In this article, we will explore together seven practical strategies for developing resilience, an essential capacity in a world that is constantly changing.

1. Understanding Problems as Lessons for Growth

Strategies to transform problems into opportunities

As the saying goes, a calm sea never made a good sailor.

A resilient person sees problems not only as obstacles, but as opportunities to learn. The capacity for resilience allows us to transform every difficulty into a valuable lesson. In business, this mindset is crucial. 

Seeing problems and difficult moments as information for improvement is an essential quality in business, where uncertainty and failures can be failures and failures are inevitable and universal, since we do not control everything.

The resilience is not exclusive to a few; it is an innate capacity that we all possess and that as human beings we can cultivate, in the midst of chaos, fascinating things can emerge and turn our scars into spaces for innovation.

2. Accepting and Processing Emotions in a Healthy Way

Techniques for recognizing and managing emotions

In difficult times, it is normal to feel overwhelmed or frustrated. Accepting our emotions is essential. 

The important thing is to know how to detect these emotions in order to control how we react to them. If we deny negative emotions we will always react in a volatile way and become victims of circumstances. 

On the other hand, if we know how to recognize our emotions we can choose and practice how we want to react. This is the only way to choose and design your life proactively. 

The American Psychological Association provides in the article the road to resilience10 tips for building resilience, which can help you transform difficult life events and extract from them the best opportunities for growth. You can also check out our latest article on Why We Live Frustrated, in which we detail the philosophy behind frustration, and share techniques for dealing with it both at work and in life.

3. The Importance of Having a Support Network in Difficult Times

How to build and maintain a support network

Everyone has slumps and no one is an island. That's why having a strong support network with whom you can share and talk about what you are feeling is critical to getting through the tough times. This can be a friend, family member, mentor or colleague who can offer advice, emotional support and different perspectives. 

Investing in meaningful relationships and nurturing these connections can provide the support needed to keep you strong and resilient during crises.

Support networks and mental health

4. Avoiding Self-Exploitation: Taking Care of Mental and Physical Health

Tips for effective self-care

Has it ever happened to you that you see things more negatively when you are tired or hungry? 

Now imagine that multiplied with a weak body, poor nutrition, fatigue, lack of sleep, etc. You can become a self-destructive Grinch seeing everything in a negative way. Avoid falling into that vicious cycle.

Taking care of your daily routines, physical health, mental health and emotional health gives you the energy and focus you need to face difficulties. This includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and practicing activities that relax you. It is also important to set clear boundaries and take time to rest and recharge.

Lack of self-care can impair our resilience and can lead us to affect ourselves negatively, if you want to read more about how to deal with anxiety attacks and stress, we recommend you to read our article my first anxiety attack.

5. Defining Small Goals to Overcome Large Obstacles

The magic of setting small goals and their impact

If you want to be the richest person or the best at soccer from day one, you're going to get frustrated and any difficulty will look bigger than it is.

An effective way to build resilience is to set and achieve small, manageable goals. 

This not only provides a sense of accomplishment and momentum, but also helps build confidence in our abilities to overcome difficulties. 

Start with short-term goals and gradually moving toward larger goals makes problems seem less overwhelming, and contributes to our mental health.

6. Change as a Friend: How to Adapt to Circumstances

Adaptation and flexibility in the face of change

The only constant is change. Clinging to what we have or what we are today is a sure recipe for frustration. 

Being flexible and open to change allows us to adjust quickly to new circumstances and find innovative solutions to problems. This implies being willing to step out of our comfort zone, accept uncertainty and be prepared to change course when necessary.

Each person lives and experiences change in a different way and has his or her own time. There are 5 key stages of change, which we show below:

Figure 2. Key stages explored during a change process

What the following graph shows us is the stage of realization of the situation that generates stress, fears and anxiety and that the faster we get out of it, the better the transition will be. This stage is critical because it generates the transforming change that allows us to move forward, innovate and leave our safe zones. If you want to go deeper into this point, we recommend you to continue reading our article 4 tips to overcome life transitions.

7. Enjoying the Process and Maintaining Persistence in the Adversity

Importance of patience and persistence

Remember that no important thing was created in one day. Not even the first time. 

People with impact don't give up easily. They understand that to achieve something important they will have a lot of surprises and difficulties along the way. This requires a combination of determination, patience and a strong work ethic. 

Maintaining persistence and being resilient involves constantly remembering what motivates us. Focus on enjoying the process (even when things don't go well) and being a little better every day.

Image 3.

Conclusion:

Resilience as a Tool for Coping with Crisis and Growth

Moving forward in times of crisis is an ongoing process of self-knowledge that requires effort and practice. And the benefits of this process are immense. By applying these strategies, we will not only be able to withstand the blows, but also emerge stronger and more prepared for future challenges.

Being resilient allows us to become a person who never stops growing. Who faces crises with a positive attitude and learns from their experiences. 

In the business world, this quality is particularly valuable, as it helps us navigate the inevitable storms with grace and fortitude. By applying these strategies, we will not only be able to withstand the blows, but also emerge stronger and more prepared for the challenges ahead.

If you want to work on crisis and failure management for your work teams, please contact us at this page with the Fuckup Nights team, and thus contribute together to help your team develop its resilience, on the road to innovation and the achievement of its objectives.

Edited by

How to Be Strong in Times of Crisis? 7 Recommendations
Pepe Villatoro
Co-Founder
Pepe Villatoro is a globally awarded serial entrepreneur. He has created 5 companies and was the Regional Head of Expansion, in Southern Europe and North Latam. Currently, he collaborates with governments and companies to help create a shift in mindset. He loves traveling, having a good meal, and having good conversations.
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