Crisis? or Opportunity!

A very large non-profit organization is sending out a daily email called “daily campus crisis alert”.  It is easy to see how one might reagrd what is going on on college campuses as “a crisis”.  

But spiritual traditions teach that when we think something is a crisis, in fact it is a chance for growth,  learning, and healing… in other words, an opportunity… if we embrace it as such...much of the time.  

In the end, how we handle things tends to lead to self-fulfilling prophecies.  If we regard something as a crisis, then we will likely treat it as a crisis, which will tend to escalate matters.  If we see something as an opportunity, then we will see things through the lens of opportunity and accordingly treat the situation and others involved as such.  As we have seen, the former approach, which is frequently used, often leads to more pain, anger, separation, and even emotional and physical violence.  Whereas curiosity, listening, and compassion can often lead to the people coming together to solve problems.    

Gandhi preached non-violence, and Martin Luther King said to “Love your enemies”.  These two men led social change movements that are among the most successful in history.  Sadly, there are times when violence is necessary so I’m not prepared to say categorically that it must be ruled out.  But I propose that “opportunity" instead of “crisis" deserves more of our head space then we often give it.

Of course, these are very complex and tragic situations with many different actors and agendas; we cannot lose sight of this.  Still, how we frame something in our minds can very much impact how things play out.  If we think, feel, and act "crisis”, then that increases the chance that that is likely what we will have.  And if we think, feel, and act “opportunity", then the chances are increased that that is what we will have. No doubt there are times where it is best to keep both in mind simultaneously.