When the Storm Won't Pass
- Rene Normand
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
You know what they say… April showers bring May flowers. And for some of us, we haven’t seen sunshine in a while. My hometown of Cincinnati has had so much rain in the past few weeks that the Ohio River is the highest it has been in years and is flooding parts of the city.
This reminds me of another rhyme – “Rain, rain, go away / Come again another day; / Little Authur wants to play.” This little ditty dates back to the 17th century when James Howell authored a collection of proverbs in 1659 including “Raine, raine, goe to Spain: faire weather come againe.”
Unfortunately, singing away the rain or floods in our lives doesn’t always work.
Little Arthur would just have to wait for the sun to come out. But what he did while waiting for the storm to pass could make all the difference.
Personal storms enter our lives unexpectedly. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had a Doppler radar that could predict when a personal storm is heading our way? Sometimes we do have an internal radar that alerts us of an incoming storm, but other times we are totally caught off guard without an umbrella. Once in the storm, we wonder what to do next.
Tips to Navigate the Storm
Understand the storm. Understanding the storm first is key to determining how to navigate the challenge. Major transitions in our lives such as career changes, relationship changes, or retirement can create uncertainty and sometimes fear. We may not know how long the storm is going to last, but shifting our mindset for growth can help us identify what we want to achieve through the storm and beyond.
Look to the future, not to the past. Create a roadmap that focuses on where you are going. Resilience is built one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time. It is not a race to the finish but a well-organized plan for your success. Defining new realities inspires hope and greater confidence in the future you are creating.
Redefine identity. Some life storms, even positive ones, can cause an identity crisis. Sometimes we need to rediscover ourselves while creating a new sense of purpose in our lives. Identifying what matters most helps us gain clarity in this new life experience and the road we are on.
I’ve always loved learning about the weather, and I’ve always been passionate about helping others grow through the challenges they face in life. This is why I’ve chosen to name my coaching services Life Storm Coaching. This type of coaching is an empowered approach designed to help you navigate the disruption of the storm you are facing. Whether your storm creates a little rain or a major flood like the one in Cincinnati, approaching it with clarity and perspective will have you singing in the rain instead of waiting for the sun to come out.
Don’t let the storm define you. Let’s get our rain boots on and dance in the rain!