It is important to note that sudden and drastic changes can affect any individual, which is why being prepared for crises both mentally and financially is of paramount criticality. This lesson of life was taught to my family the hard way. I had to adapt to a sudden change in my life during the 2008 financial crisis when my parents lost their jobs, house, and savings. It was one of the most devastating events which profoundly impacted me as well.
In a rather short period of time, my family fell from financial stability and prosperity to high levels of financial insecurity. We lost our house in the process, which deeply and profoundly impacted me since we needed to relocate and move to a different state. The consequences were severe because not only did our lifestyle worsen, but the relationships and my family’s mental health worsened. I lost my friends and the environment I was accustomed to, which I had to adapt to by maintaining my routines and practicing acceptance to the best of my abilities, which are effective adaptation measures (Cherry, 2021). Exercising and meditating as well as focusing on my personal goals, helped me to realize that the crisis was outside of my control, which is why I became more resilient to stress.
In conclusion, even the harshest events in life carry meaningful lessons. For the majority of my life, I considered my parents as a financially stable couple. The latter was true up until the 2008 recession when there were nationwide layoffs, which affected my parents. The sudden change due to the 2008 crisis made me more financially acute and responsible, even if I am still fairly young. My parents became more financially secure since then by learning the importance of emergency funds and reluctance to live an expensive lifestyle.
Reference
Cherry, K. (2021). How to get better at dealing with change. Very Well Mind.