Five Steps to Overcoming a Tragedy

Experiencing certain tragedies can create major life changes for an individual or family. Defining a tragedy varies from context to situations to people and how they are affected. However, anything that causes suffering and adversity is most certainly categorized as a tragedy. How then do we face and overcome a tragedy when suffering is blocked by trying to merely survive? The circumstances of facing a loved ones death, dealing with a natural disaster, financial and physical tragedies can bring the strongest of us to our knees and feeling helpless. How then do we deal with life as it goes on?

 Here are five steps to take to try to overcome a tragedy:

1)      Acknowledge: Made sense of what has happened in your own way. This is your story . You get to define how it has affected you. This step serves as mental practice as you think and observe about what has happened.

2)      Ask Questions: Why did it happen? Was there a cause? Ask any and all questions, but know you are responsible for the answer. Sometimes there are no answers, at least for the time being. When these questions arise and you have no one to ask, ask the universe.

3)      Give yourself permission to mourn: This is important as our focus can change quickly given priorities that need attention. Surround yourself with supportive family and friends and let them in, even if you rather be alone. Now is the time to mourn together as it affects them too, especially if it affects you.

4)      Explore/write/draw/create: Art is a beautiful outlet to help people acknowledge their dreams, hopes and current reality. Take time to process how your tragedy is affecting you. Have you made changes or wish to? Write down how you feel about what has happened and how you hope to feel again. This is your time to grieve alone. Its important to communicate with yourself in an open and honest way.

5)      Acceptance of life events: The emotions we feel about what has happened in our lives can have profound effects for our present and future. Having a positive outlook despite the tragedy is key as life is full of ups and downs and it is how we react and continue to live our lives that will determine our happiness. All things do happen for a reason and sometimes we don’t know why and that’s okay. Time and patience is of great virtue to help us accept and live with the aftermath of what has happened.