Contents
Many people are now looking to the future with concern. And our heroine treats what is happening as a space of rare opportunities for those who are not afraid to act and offer something new. Crisis trials are a way for her to feel alive. This point of view is commented on by the Gestalt therapist.
“When you are open to life as an adventure, it comes to meet you”
Margarita (36 years old)
“The news, which changed a lot in our lives, caught me at the end of February in Istanbul. I flew from St. Petersburg to open another line of our business — home textiles. And then one day everything changes. I find myself with blocked cards and cannot pay not only for goods, but also for housing. It is unclear what happened to the return tickets. However, at such moments I do not panic, but on the contrary, I remember my early youth. The excitement wakes up to solve complex life and entrepreneurial tasks.
The most precious thing appears — the feeling of being … alive
A separate quest was the transfer of money in all possible ways from Russia to Turkey in order to have time to redeem all the goods. I had to move from an expensive hotel to a much more modest apartment, which turned out to be a vivid experience. This is a place with a special touch, for the locals. I went to the market, bargained, buying food. For some, wild stress, but I enjoyed it.
I love moments when everything is crushed and collapses. Something new, even more interesting, always emerges from this. For me, this is the ability to look at myself from the outside — how will I react in a difficult situation?
I noticed a long time ago: when you have no fear and you are open to life as an adventure, it goes towards you. Turkish partners have entered our position, have accepted new payment options. When people see that you act, treat everything with ease and excitement, do not fall into despair, this also inspires them. They want to be with you, they want to be part of this contagious wave.
As soon as you allow yourself to be psychologically de-energized, not only your business will collapse, but all human connections.
I am amazed at the entrepreneurs getting depressed today, even though they should be the most active group. It’s going to be a tough time, but I see a lot of opportunities. It is important for everyone now not to give up, to concentrate, to think about how to move on. And for entrepreneurs, this is also a great opportunity to start producing something in a new, cleared field.
I would suggest getting together in groups and everyone becoming co-investors — time to look for like-minded people. The one who understands the needs of others, is capable of empathy, will succeed. If you can solve someone’s problem, you will be fine. The mistake of many is to raise a check. On the contrary, it is important to be in an adequate price tag so as not to lose your customers.
Business activity will move towards China
I worked in this country for seven years and from my own experience I can say — do not be afraid that you will not find a common language with people. The Chinese value a lot in their relationship with us. First of all, the possibility of friendship. They see Russians as sincere people. Chinese people grow up in classrooms of 80 and no one gets personal attention. So they get used to seeing in everyone a potential competitor. We show them the other side of communication.
Think of overseas Chinese tourists holding each other, this is another key to understanding the national character. They do not know how to be alone with themselves, but respect this quality in others. I came to China alone, worked as a representative of a Russian company, and the Chinese admired my self-sufficiency. They really appreciate our ability to be independent. It is important that we appreciate this in ourselves.”
“It is important not only to see new opportunities, but also to mourn losses”
Anna Sinitsyna, gestalt therapist
“I would like to consider the history of Margarita from several angles.
Firstly, in a situation of danger, the low level of reflection and willingness to act that the heroine demonstrates is a completely healthy reaction. The body and psyche need to survive the threat. This is a good strategy in the early stages, going into long experiences can be costly. Further there are nuances. If a person feels pleasure and enjoyment from a stressful state — as the heroine says, «there is a feeling of being alive» — this is worth paying attention to.
This means that the nervous system needs meaningful stimuli for emotions and feelings to emerge.
Experiences of lower intensity do not give this feeling of life, a person becomes bored over time, unless something “sharp” happens. There is adrenaline and dopamine pleasure, which lasts a very short time and takes a lot of energy.
This can lead either to an even greater loss of sensitivity and even cruelty, involving the achievement of a goal at any cost, or to serious diseases, as a person stops resting and taking care of his health and leisure.
For a harmonious existence, we need to be able to live through periods of both tension and action, as well as relaxation and slowdown.
Secondly, it is important not to forget that any crisis situation has two sides: the opening of new opportunities and the loss of something significant. And both are important. If a person concentrates only on opportunities, but does not mourn the loss, this first time can give him energy and strength for mobilization. However, by not recognizing that something important and valuable has gone away at the same time, we lose the chance in the changed conditions to give it a new life. After all, first you need to evaluate and realize the best that we had, to survive the pain of loss.
It is important to be able to live both hope and grief. They do not contradict each other, rather, they complement and develop us internally.”