7 Tips to Get You Through the Storms of Life

“Storms” are a part of life. They are dark, loud, intrusive, and often ruin our plans. Some storms are unavoidable — others are the direct result of our free will. Regardless of the reasons, storms are wet, messy, and muddy. But our biggest problem isn’t the storms. It’s how we respond to them.

1. Visualize

What area of your life are you struggling with? If your answer is: my finances, my relationships, my weight, my job… I get it. I remember moaning to my best friend in college about how everything was wrong. My very practical, no nonsense friend said, “We can’t solve every problem today, but if you can just choose one…”

Everything gets us dizzy. Everything overwhelms us. We give up before we begin.

If you could take care of one problem today, what would it be? Visualize what your life would look like without it. 

What steps can you take to make this happen?

2. Stop Talking

About how bad things are, how much you’ve messed up, how this “always happens,” and why things are never going to work. Stop singing songs that make your cry and wish for days gone by. Stop repeating “no hope” broadcasts… you get the point.

The Bible tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. 

Today, make an extra effort to pay attention to your conversations. If everything you talked about came true, what would your life look like?

3. Find a Mentor

It is not always possible to have an actual mentor, but you can still reap the benefits of having one. It just takes a little more effort. 

When I was little, my mom got the Readers Digest. I would go through the quotable quotes and search for “wisdom.” One of my favorite ones was by Eleanor Roosevelt. “We gain strength, courage and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. We must do that which we think we cannot.”

My mom got tired of me circling passages with magic markers, so she bought me a notebook “for all my wisdom.” Throughout the years, I’ve written down lyrics to songs, words from strangers, bits and pieces of sermons, visions and dreams… I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve pulled out that book and found guidance, insight and inspiration. 

Having people to call on — even if they are in a notebook, is invaluable.

4. Focus

On what you are doing right.

It’s true that until we look in the mirror and get honest with ourselves about what needs changing, that nothing will change. But only focusing on the bad stuff leaves us depressed and distraught.

What is working in your life? Focus on that.

Let yourself feel — even if it’s just for a moment, how very special you are.

5. You Can Choose to Change

But you can’t change anyone else. Read that again. I can choose to change, but I can’t change anyone else.

It doesn’t matter if it is your dad, your boyfriend, your spouse, boss, or best friend, you can’t make people see what they don’t want to see. It doesn’t matter how beautiful, smart, rich or successful you are. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve changed, or how many times they’ve promised to change. Not understanding this — or at least accepting this, leads us down a very lonely road.

Put your time and energy into making the changes you need to make for you. Because you can choose to change!

6. Breathe 

It all depends on the tone, the moment and the motivation, but there have been times when someone has told me to “relax” or to “just breathe,” that… let’s just say it didn’t help.

Meanwhile, I’ve realized that when I get really upset, I don’t breathe! I unconsciously hold my breath (which is probably why my face gets splotchy, my chest breaks out in red dots and I get extremely hot).

Now that I know this, I remind myself to “breathe.”

7. Remember… You have an Invitation.

You have an all Access Pass to God’s Amazing Love, Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace. It’s available 24/7. All you need to do is RSVP. The door is open.