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Shocked Alive?

Shock often doesn’t feel that good. It jolts and disorients us and can even make us feel out of control and powerless.

But if it is not too intense, it can bring us back to life, wake us up, and make us more aware of what is happening and where we are going.

Some of this depends on how we think of it, but not all of it. There are levels of shock that are genuinely disabling and even life-threatening, and no amount of reframing will make them anything else.

Trying to pretend we aren’t damaged when we are will lead to further damage, so we should not be led astray by the “everything is how you look at it” ideologues.

On the other hand, it’s good to take stock when shocked, and if we find we are still in one piece, we may also find renewed enthusiasm and fresh perspectives.

Let’s be thoughtful and discriminating, but make shock our ally if we can.