CAN CRISES BECOME A SOURCE OF STRENGTH?

April 04, 2025 • Melike Balkın Karakaya

“The Human Who Rises from the Ashes”

There are moments in life when everything suddenly darkens. The ground seems to shift beneath your feet, and nothing feels the same again. Moments of crisis…

At first, they appear as pure destruction. As if the inner walls collapse one by one, and the ground you stand on no longer holds you. Yet here lies the secret: Every collapse carries within it the potential for rebirth.

"I have always thought of crises as earthquakes. They overturn everything. But once the dust settles, you begin to see clearly: Some foundations were already fragile."

Some walls were not protecting you — they were imprisoning you. And perhaps the version of you that emerges from the rubble is your most authentic self.

Life has shown me, again and again, that pain is a teacher. And when you truly listen, it leads you closer to yourself. At the very moment you believe you have lost everything, you may in fact be taking the first steps of a journey toward self-discovery. This is where what we call post-traumatic growth begins.

Not everyone who goes through a crisis becomes stronger. But those who dare to face it — and reshape themselves within it — become something fundamentally different. Because this kind of growth is not like blossoming; it is like growing roots. Invisible, yet profound. Silent, yet unshakable.

    "In my own life, I noticed where the light entered precisely where I was most broken. As I moved through pain, it felt as though a new self was being born within me — more determined, more grounded, more genuine."
  

Now I understand: sometimes, one must get lost in order to find the way. If you are currently in the midst of a crisis… Do not run. Do not be ashamed of your emotions. This is not weakness. It is the essence of being human.

Ask yourself this question: “What might this experience be transforming me into?”

A crisis is not an enemy. It is a signal — to awaken you, to shake you, to invite you into rebirth. Just like the phoenix rising from its ashes.

5 WAYS TO EMERGE STRONGER FROM A CRISIS

1. Do not deny your pain — honor it. Healing does not come from ignoring wounds, but from wrapping them with compassion.
2. Do not hesitate to seek support. Sometimes, speaking with someone is the healthiest way to keep moving without collapsing.
3. Make space for meaning. What is this experience trying to reveal to you?
4. Meet yourself again. Write, read, create — listen closely to your inner voice.
5. Trust time. Time offers growth, quietly and patiently.

And remember: The version of you that passes through a crisis can become more grounded, more real, and more aware than before. Because the brightest stars appear in the darkest night.

And sometimes… the most beautiful rebirths in life begin at the very moment you say, “It’s over.”