Two Storms

Having the opportunity to support efforts on two recent hurricanes, I was struck by the difference between Irma in 2017 and Michael in 2018. 

Irma was a grueling event, people knew she was coming for days as she approached Florida. Where was she going to make landfall? First on the east coast, then the west coast. Irma was so massive, the storm encompassed the state from Miami to the panhandle bend.

Michael on the other had was quick and destructive. Warnings started on the weekend, he made landfall on Wednesday. The amount of physical destruction I saw in Michael’s immediate path dwarfed the destruction I saw from Irma.

This got me thinking, how many events in life are long and grueling, like Irma? They seem to go on and on: a chronic health issue, divorce, a challenging colleague at work. Other events in life are like Michael, quick and painful: an unexpected death, infidelity, or getting caught off guard by someone’s behavior.

Thinking about physical storms and the storms people face in life, I was stuck by a common theme of people who face storms and seem to come out okay on the other side: resilience!

What are the traits of resilient people?

• The ability to get knocked in life and come back stronger
• Optimism and positivity, the ability to regulate emotions
• Mistakes don’t define them; mistakes are opportunities to learn
• Resilient people are able to stay focused on the long-term view vs getting caught in short-term distractions

It doesn’t matter if a storm is a physical storm, like a hurricane or a personal challenge. Resilient people have the muscle to get through the storm as quick as possible, realizing that setbacks don’t define a focused, purposeful life.