CIC Introduction

Welcome to the How to Survive a Life Quake Crisis Intervention Course

Or, “How to Turn Your Meltdown into a Masterpiece (Without Burning Down Your Instagram Feed)”

Dear potential Life Quake Survivor,

Let me guess:
You’re here because the ground beneath your feet is doing the cha-cha. Maybe it was a divorce, layoff, burnout, loss, or a soul-sucking realisation that “Wait…is this ALL there is?” Whatever shook you, I’m betting your inner monologue sounds like a broken GPS: “Recalculating… recalculating… [ERROR NOISE].”

First things first: You’re not broken. You are not beaten. And you’re definitely not alone.

I’m Dr. Margaretha Montagu, your overly caffeinated guide to navigating life’s tectonic shifts. If you wonder why I’m qualified to teach this course, you can find out here.

This course isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you rebuild from the rubble—with better materials, fewer toxic blueprints, and a solid supply of questionable wit.

What is a “Life Quake”? aka Life Transitions, Major Life Changes and Life Crises

A life quake isn’t just a bad day, a rough month, or even a “year from hell.” It’s a foundation-level shakeup—the kind that cracks your identity, relationships, or purpose wide open. Think:

• Career quakes: Layoffs, burnout, or realizing you’d rather scoop cat litter than sit through another Zoom meeting.
• Relationship quakes: Divorce, estrangement, or fractured friendships.
• Existential quakes: Waking up at 3 AM thinking, “Is this REALLY my life? Did I take a wrong turn at Albuquerque?”

After I don’t know how many life transitions, I finally struck gold. I make a mind-shattering discovery:

Life quakes are Upgrades in Disguise.

Yes, at the moment it might feel like a dumpster fire. But life quakes are forced edits—a cosmic nudge to scrap what wasn’t working and build something that actually fits who you are now.

In this course, we’ll treat your current life quake as if you are an interior designer. Together, we’ll toss the outdated furniture, repurpose the salvageable bits, and turn your rubble into a mind-boggling masterpiece.

What You’ll Unlearn Here (Spoiler: Toxic Positivity Gets Thrown out with the Trash)

This isn’t a “good vibes only” cult. We’re here to get real, get messy, and get moving. You’ll:

1. Ditch the “Shouldpocalypse”
   “I should be over this by now.” “I should be grateful.” Nope. We’ll trade “shoulds” for curiosity, because guilt is a terrible architect.
2. Outsmart Your Inner Martyr
   That voice whispering “Suffer in silence!”? We’ll teach it to shut up with science, journaling, and the occasional (slight) swear word.
3. Turn “Why Me?” into “What If?”
   Spoiler: Curiosity is the gateway drug to purpose. We’ll help you quit catastrophising and start experimenting.
4. Build a versatile and variable Toolkit
   No platitudes. Just actionable strategies—grounded in neuroscience, therapy hacks, and my own extensive research into “ugly crying in deserted parking lots.”

How This Works: Your 7-Step Strategy

Each section is a mix of storytelling, science, and journaling prompts designed to rebuild your resilience muscle. Here’s your roadmap:

1. The Epicentre of Chaos Self-Audit
   Translation: “Let’s map the cracks in your foundation (and find the gold hidden in the rubble).”
2. Tectonic Plates & Emotional States
   Translation: “How to ride emotional tsunamis without losing your snacks (or your sanity).”
3. The Seismic Identity Shift
   Translation: “Ditch the ‘Before’ you like last season’s skinny jeans.”
4. Fault Lines to Lifelines
   Translation: “Build your SOS squad (because even Wonder Woman needs a Steve Trevor).”
5. Aftershock Alchemy
   Translation: “Turn ‘Why Me?’ into ‘What If I…?’ (Yes, even that weird idea you’re too scared to say out loud).”
6. Firmly Grounded in Gratitude
   Translation: “Design a post-quake life that’s 10% less ‘adulting’ and 90% more ‘hell yes.’”
7. Surviving Life’s Seismic Shifts
   Translation: “How to wobble forward (and why ‘ready’ is a myth invented by people who sell planners).”

Your Superpower: Journaling (But Less Pretentious)

Forget “Dear Diary” vibes. This is journaling for people who hate journaling. Think of it as:

• A brain dump for your emotional spam folder.
• A “receipt tracker” for your growth.
• A safe space to vent, dream, and process without judgment (or your boss’s opinions).

Each section includes prompts designed to bypass your inner critic and tap into your subconscious wisdom. Pro tip: If you’re stuck, try writing with your non-dominant hand. One of the best brain hacks I know.

Before We Dive In… Take the “How Resilient Are You?” Quiz

“But wait—I AM resilient! I haven’t burned down my ex’s house down… yet.”

Resilience isn’t about being a stoic robot. It’s about bending without breaking, grieving without drowning, and rebuilding your life without losing your sense of humour.

My “How Resilient Are You?” Quiz isn’t a judgment—it’s a flashlight. In 10 quick questions, you’ll discover:

• Your Quake Coping Style: Are you a “Fix-It Frenzy,” a “Numb & Scroll,” or a “Catastrophe Comedian”?
• Your Rebuild Readiness: How much gas is in your emotional tank?
• Your Secret Superpower: Hint: It’s probably the thing you’re embarrassed to admit.

Take the quiz here. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s the perfect warm-up before we start digging into the good stuff.

What Happens Next? (No Pressure, Just Progress)

This isn’t a race. You’re not being graded. And you’re absolutely allowed to:

• Skip Sections: If a prompt triggers you, toss it. We’ll circle back later.
• Embrace Imperfection: Miss a day? Did you forget your journal? Well, hello, perfectly normal human being.
• Laugh at the Absurdity: Because if you can’t laugh at your own melodrama, what’s the point?

By the end of this course, you’ll:
✅ Have a clear map of your emotional fault lines (and know how to stabilise them).
✅ Upgrade your self-talk from “hot mess” to “work in progress.”
✅ Spot purpose clues in the chaos (yes, even that weird hobby you’re hiding).
✅ Feel lighter, clearer, and weirdly excited about the “after” version of your life.

A Final Note (From One intermittent Rubble-Dweller to Another)

I won’t tell you to “look on the bright side.” Bright sides are overrated, and frankly, the glare hurts my eyes.

But I will promise you this:
Your quake is not the end of your story. It’s the messy middle—the part where the hero realises they’ve been wearing someone else’s armour.

So grab your journal (or open a new file) your favourite drink and maybe a snack (I recommend something crunchy for stress relief). Let’s aim for “Oh. This is what I’m here for.”

P.S. Don’t forget the quiz. Trust me, it’s way more fun than adulting.
How Resilient Are You? Take the 10-Minute Quiz