The winds outside my window are strong. The birch tree is whipping around left and right, up and down. Thunder echos across the sky My view is obscured by rain on the windows. There are no tornado warnings, it’s just a line of storms passing through. Has that ever happened in your life?
And then there’s the earthquake.
I grew up in the Midwest, so tornado warnings were part of it But I also lived in California and experienced two small earthquakes there. There is no warning. It just shows up and shakes you and our surroundings.
Which do you prefer? The turmoil that is expected or the shakeup that suddenly occurs? Both are part of nature Both are part of life.
Accept what shows up
I can no more change the path of nature than I can change what shows up in my life. What I can change is how I respond. I’m calm and curious in this rainstorm. I’m glad I have no reason to go outside, I’d be stoic if I did. If there was a tornado warning I would take precautions, I would take my purse, my computer and my cats and go to my bathroom shower stall. But this is simply very heavy wind and I can weather it
Are you prepared for heavy weather?
Whether it is the eruption of a discord with a friend or an unexpected rearranging of the landscape at your work, there are always changes. Life is one continuous cycle of changes. How we respond to them, how we adjust to the changes, determine our experience of life
Accept that there is constant change
Nothing remains the same and life would be really boring if it did. You change, your circumstances change, your opportunities and choices change. It is up to you do be mindful of your choices and make changes that are aligned with your core self.
Make your choice in the moment
Shape things as they come. Make your choice in the moment based on what you need, what you want, and what is available.
Adjust as you explore
Look at your choice as an exploration Recently I explored a little deeper into a program I thought I would offer and decided I didn’t want to do it after all. That exploration helped me get in touch with what I do want Delving deeper into the particulars of that choice helped me clarify what I DO want.
The storms will pass
The storm outside my window has moved on. The sky is clearing, the winds have lessened. Calm is gradually being restored. When you are faced with a storm in your life, be patient. Stay in, take shelter, figure out your options Circumstances will keep changing and life will be quiet and serene again.
How do you handle the storms in your life? How do you change? How do you respond? What new options do you discover?
Remember, the storm in your life is simply passing through.
To Sing a Deeper Song consider:
06– Unfolding And The Art Of Wu Wei (podcast, 20 minutes)
12- How To Nurture Yourself if You are a Rock (podcast, 20 minutes)
The Road Taken, the Choices Made
We Must Know When To Go It Alone.
How Have Your Parameters Changed?
