Chapter 15
Crisis Brings Out True Character
CHAPTER FIFTEEN A TELEGRAM “November is the most disagreeable month in the whole year,” said Margaret, standing at the window one dull afternoon, looking out at the frostbitten garden. “That’s the reason I was born in it,” observed Jo pensively, quite unconscious of the blot on her nose. “If something very pleasant should happen now, we should think it a delightful month,” said Beth, who took a hopeful view of everything, even November. “I dare say, but nothing pleasant ever does happen in this family,” said Meg, who was out of sorts. “We go grubbing along day after day, without…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Create Your Crisis Character Map
Draw or list your own crisis character map. First, identify three major challenges you've faced in the past five years. For each crisis, write down what you discovered about yourself, what you were willing to sacrifice, and who showed up to help. Then predict: based on these patterns, how would you likely respond to a future emergency?
Consider:
- •Look for patterns in your responses - do you become more decisive or more paralyzed under pressure?
- •Notice who consistently appears in your support network during tough times
- •Consider what this reveals about your core values versus your everyday priorities
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when crisis revealed something surprising about your own character or someone close to you. What did you learn that changed how you see yourself or that relationship?
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