Facing a Crisis? Take it Day by Day

When we are faced with a crisis, most of us find that we can generally handle it for the day in question.

Usually, we only feel overwhelmed when we think not about today, but about the next day, and the one after that.

We start to worry about how we can handle the crisis if it continues for a week. A month. A year. Indefinitely.

Then, we start to worry not just about the crisis we are facing, but how we will manage if another crisis is piled on top of the one that we already have. Soon, our imagination has spiraled out of control and we are feeling the stress and pressure of events that very well may never happen.

But when we focus on putting one foot in front of the other, and dealing with the challenges of life as they come, we generally find that we can manage fairly well.

Dr. Sally Porter Ross makes this point well in a recent column from the Houston Chronicle.

She uses a skiing analogy, where she explains that the best skiers are the ones who can focus on the very next patch of snow that they will encounter, instead of trying to anticipate all the crooks and turns that will come on the entire course.

So, if you are feeling overwhelmed today about a challenge in your life, ask yourself: Am I thinking too far ahead? Could I benefit from focusing on getting through this day, without worrying about the days to come?

There are times to plan, and there are times to be in the now. Knowing the difference can be essential in helping us to manage stress – not just today, but for a lifetime.