Life in a storm

As humans, we have a natural instinct to want to control everything around us. We want to be in charge of our lives, our surroundings, and the people we interact with. But the truth is, there are some things in life that we simply cannot control. One of those things is the storms that rage within us and around us.

Life is full of storms, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small and manageable, like a passing rain shower on a sunny day. Others are massive and overwhelming, like a hurricane that rages for days on end. These storms can come in many forms, like the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a financial crisis, or a health scare. Whatever the storm may be, the instinctual response is to try and control it, to calm it down, to make it go away.

But the truth is, we cannot calm the storm. No matter how hard we try, no matter how much effort we put into it, some storms are simply too big, too powerful, and too intense to control. We cannot control the weather, we cannot control the actions of others, and we cannot control the events that unfold in our lives. What we can control, however, is how we respond to the storm.

We can choose to panic, to run around in circles, to lash out in anger and frustration. We can choose to let the storm consume us, to let it break us down and wear us out. Or, we can choose to calm ourselves. We can choose to take a deep breath, to centre ourselves, and to focus on what we can control.

When we try to control the storm, we often end up feeling more stressed and overwhelmed than we did before. We put all of our energy into something that we simply cannot change, and it leaves us feeling drained, exhausted, and defeated. But when we focus on calming ourselves, on finding a sense of inner peace and stability, we empower ourselves to weather the storm.

It is not easy to calm ourselves in the midst of a storm. It takes practice, patience, and a lot of hard work. But it is worth it. When we learn to calm ourselves, we learn to be more resilient, more adaptable, and more capable of handling whatever life throws our way.

Here are some strategies you can use to calm yourself in the midst of a storm:

1. Focus on your breath: When we are feeling anxious or overwhelmed, our breath tends to become shallow and rapid. By taking slow, deep breaths, we can slow down our heart rate and bring a sense of calm to our body.
2. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is all about being present in the moment and focusing on the sensations in your body. By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to let go of your worries and find a sense of inner peace.
3. Seek support: You do not have to weather the storm alone. Reach out to friends, family, or a therapist for support and guidance.
4. Practice self-care: Take time to care for yourself during the storm. This might mean taking a long bath, going for a walk, or simply taking a nap.
5. Accept your emotions: It is okay to feel overwhelmed, scared, or sad during a storm. Acknowledge your emotions and allow yourself to feel them without judgment.

It is important to remember that storms do pass. No matter how intense the storm may feel in the moment, it will eventually calm down. The sun will come out again, and life will go on. By focusing on calming yourself in the midst of the storm, you'll be better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.

Trying to control the storm is futile. It is like trying to hold onto sand in the palm of your hand. No matter how tightly you grip, the sand will slip through your fingers. Similarly, the storm will rage on, regardless of how much we try to control it. Instead, we need to focus on calming ourselves, on finding a sense of inner peace and stability that will help us weather the storm.

This is not to say that we should give up or resign ourselves to the storm. Rather, it is about recognising the things we can control and the things we cannot. We can control how we respond to the storm, but we cannot control the storm itself. By accepting this truth, we free ourselves from the burden of trying to control the uncontrollable and empower ourselves to focus on what really matters: our own well-being.

The storm may be raging around us, but we do not have to be swept away by it. By calming ourselves, we become a beacon of hope and stability for those around us. We can offer comfort and support to others who are also weathering the storm, and we can remind them that the storm will pass.

It is easy to get caught up in the chaos of the storm, to feel like we are drowning in a sea of uncertainty and fear. But if we can learn to calm ourselves, to find a sense of inner peace and stability, we can rise above the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.

In the end, it is not about calming the storm. It's about calming ourselves. It is about recognising our own strength and resilience, and tapping into that strength to weather whatever storms may come our way. So the next time a storm is raging, remember: you cannot control the storm, but you can control yourself. The storm will pass, but you will remain.