How To Manage an Emotional Crisis

An emotional crisis (in this case a non-life-and-death situation), is anything that can cause you to go into panic mode. Most of the time these situations can be effectively managed in the long term by taking  steps to improve your emotional health and by understanding your beliefs. Many times we get ourselves worked up for no reason because of an unfounded belief. For example, you may have gotten passed up for promotion and believe you will never be leadership material. Or you may be faced with an upcoming challenge and you may freak out because you think you will fail and embarrass yourself someway.

Working on overcoming your limiting beliefs will help you manage these feelings over the long haul, but what about an immediate emotional crisis? There is no time to think about books you’ve read or worksheets you can work on. This can be anything from being caught in a traffic jam on your way to your dream job interview, feeling overwhelmed at work, or any situation that will cause you to become emotional and overwrought with anxiety.

Manage An Emotional Crisis With One Simple Phrase

There is one simple phrase you can say to yourself, that will immediately stop an emotional crisis and put things into perspective:

“I am glad I am not …”

When you are in that traffic jam and starting to panic about being late, say to yourself, “I am glad I am not...”

“I am glad I’m not in that accident that is stopping traffic.”

When you are feeling overwhelmed at work,  say to yourself: “I am glad I am not jobless”, or “I am glad I am not trying to figure out how to pay my bills.”

Fill in the blanks. Saying this simple phrase, will put things into perspective and stop an emotional crisis immediately. Try it the next time you feel an emotional crisis coming on.