Watching general trends among my clients, it's often apparent that humans seem to have up and down cycles they are not aware of. It frequently happens that client after client is in the throes of crises of some sort during the same week. When that occurs, I let my clients know that it looks like "this is something bigger than us!"

When you are in crisis, consider this, rather than freaking out and letting the crisis "take hold", take a look around and listen and pay attention to what others are experiencing. Peeking out of the foxhole, taking your attention off your own situation and looking at the big picture is very calming and also strategically intelligent.

When you do this, nearly always you will discover that most all about you are going through some intense experiences of their own. When you look about and see what others are going through, you may be relieved that those are their problems and not yours. This gives a great sense of perspective. After that observation, if you can bring yourself to the realization that this is bigger than just you, you will feel much calmer. If it is a more general and widespread energy, and not personal to you, it can usually be comforting, enlightening, and calming.

From that calmer place, next you might just realize, "I've been around the block a time or two. I've handled a lot in my life already. I can handle this too."

Next, and most importantly, after calming and comforting yourself, consider times of crisis to be opportunities to get quiet, assess the situation, clean up and organize, strategize, and generally get your life in order. Take fewer actions, but consciously assess and chose the right few actions.

Are you thinking, "Is Suzi crazy? How can you get quiet in crisis?" Think about this. If this crisis is just part of a greater general crisis, and you are capable of handling it, wouldn't you be best served by seeing it as just another go round on a roller coaster, every bit as predictable as a roller coaster?

If that's true, wouldn't it be best not to exhaust yourself with the drama of a crisis? Wouldn't you be better off to get quiet and do whatever it takes to clean up mess and strategically position yourself for the beginning of the next up cycle? If you think of it this way, wouldn't your actions be different? Wouldn't you meditate and pray? Wouldn't you put on calming music or inspiring and motivating CD's? Wouldn't you plan, dream, and connect with loved ones?

Turn off the news. Don't listen to or read things that add to your distress or cause your feelings to spiral downward. Control what you allow into your mind. Watch DVD's of your own choosing rather than network TV. Rest, connect, strategize, figure out solutions, plan next moves, and don't get caught up in the general atmosphere of craziness. Instead remain clear eyed and position yourself for the beginning of the new cycle.