Feeling like being the middle of a storm right now and not sure what to do?
Check out my 5 tips to help you navigate out of the storm.
I usually wish for that perfect, sunny day. Most of us do. We don’t like the bad weather, the dark clouds, lightning and thunder.
It’s like that in life, too. I am always hoping for that perfect weather. We don’t want to be sick. We don’t want to have difficulties at work. We would like for everything to be just perfect.
As I think about my career, my life and my experiences, I can honestly say that I’ve grown more in the difficult times. When a storm is raging in my life, I am forced to a new place. I have to change tactics, learn a new skill, and do something differently.
When you’re in the middle of a storm, it feels like it will never end. You may not know which way to turn or what to do.
Just like the passing rain we experienced in Cork this week, the storm will pass. And when it does, you may find that you have a new clarity. You may find that the storm renewed you in ways you couldn’t have imagined. You may find that character is developed in challenging times.
5 tips to help you get through the storm:
1. Stay grounded practicing meditation or yoga so you don’t emotionally react to the situation
The goal with meditation is to train your attention and awareness so you can achieve a state of mental clarity and be in an emotionally calm and stable. We think the most common misconception about meditation is that it can only be done one way, and we bet you are visualising someone sitting on their yoga mats in complete stillness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Meditation can be many things, so don't beat yourself up if you use an app or can only meditate for 5-10 minutes without distraction, meditation can be a part of life in every way.⠀⠀⠀
2. Lean on friends for support
Asking for help and showing vulnerability is one of the most courageous things you will ever do. Do not be afraid to ask for help. What some may view as a sign of weakness is actually a sign of healthy strength. I find it’s usually the givers, nurturers, and the most supportive people who are happy to help others, but cringe at the thought of asking for help. Reaching out doesn’t only benefit you, but it allows others to enjoy that same great feeling you feel when you’re helping someone. Think about it, you give because it feels good; why deprive someone else of that same gift they now have an opportunity to give to you? Giving fills us with a sense of purpose, fulfilment, and joy. Why deprive another of that joy just because you’re the one who needs it now? Don’t be selfish and let others help you when you are in need.
3. Be compassionate with yourself and give time for things to get better
Be gentle with yourself, and do your best to eat well and exercise, refuel and replenish, breathe and meditate. A fit and sound body and mind will help you to stay centered while the storm whirls around you. Go for a walk, meet a friend for coffee, have a full out cry…do whatever you need to nurture your body, mind and spirit. No matter what the crisis, navigating the storm comes slowly. Eventually, you’ll find a silver lining. Change is never easy but trusting that this tragedy may possibly lead to your greatest triumph enriches our lives in a way we could have never conceived. There is something to gain from every challenge before the sun comes out- even if the only lesson learned is how to dance in the rain.
4. Positive Affirmations to help you trust that the best is yet to come
When you are in the middle of the storm is normal to experience some negative emotions. We may feel trepidation as we don’t know what awaits us; regret that we didn’t do more before the storm; overwhelmed as we are in the middle of the storm or worry that we won’t make any real progress to get out of it.
I admit that some of those negative thoughts have crossed my mind and I’ve had to talk my way out of them. I received a little help when I came across the inspiring lyrics of the song The Best Is Yet To Come, made famous by Frank Sinatra: You think you’ve seen the sun, but you ain’t seen it shine Wait till the warm-up’s underway And wait till you see that sunshine day You ain’t seen nothin’ yet The best is yet to come You must first lead yourself starting with having an optimistic view of the future. Worrying about the future won’t do you the slightest bit of good and it will only make the storm even scarier. Sitting down with pen and paper helps to get some clarity. Assessing the current situation and looking at the different options. Staying still in the boat for a moment and identifying where the north, south, east and west are. 🧭 We cannot continue navigating to our vision if the vision is very foggy due to all the emotions that are running through your head. Think of something that it is not the way you want it to be in your life? * How do you want it to be? (Details) * What have you done so far to rectify this? * Have your efforts so far got you what you want? * Whatever you did so far, it was the best you knew how to do. * In this matter, what do you have control over? Answering these questions is going to help you get clarity of where you are right now. Like the compass, placing it on the table in front of you, it will give you a very good idea of where you are. You may not know yet where to go but it is going to help you get some clarity. Time now to grab pen and paper and answer all these questions.
A positive mindset may not come natural to you. That is ok. You can change that with a little bit of work.
If you believe the phrase you are what you think, then life truly stems from your thoughts. But we cannot rely purely on thoughts; we must translate thoughts into words and eventually into actions in order to manifest our intentions. This means we have to be very careful with our words, choosing to speak only those which work towards our benefit and cultivate our highest good. Affirmations help purify our thoughts and restructure the dynamic of our brains so that we truly begin to think nothing is impossible. The word affirmation comes from the Latin affirmare, originally meaning "to make steady, strengthen." Affirmations do indeed strengthen us by helping us believe in the potential of an action we desire to manifest. When we verbally affirm our dreams and ambitions, we are instantly empowered with a deep sense of reassurance that our wishful words will become reality. Affirmations are so powerful to navigate through the storm as they empower us to believe there is a end to it and help us move along. Affirmations are proven methods of self-improvement because of their ability to rewire our brains. Much like exercise, they raise the level of feel-good hormones and push our brains to form new clusters of “positive thought” neurons. In the sequence of thought-speech-action, affirmations play an integral role by breaking patterns of negative thoughts, negative speech, and, in turn, negative actions. Start today writing 10 positive affirmations that are going to support you. Start with the statement “I am....” followed by whatever it is that you need more confidence on. Write them down, have them somewhere you see them regularly like your phone screen or your bathroom mirror or the door of the fridge! Wherever it is going to be a reminder and every time you see it, it makes you smile 😊
5. Practice gratitude as many things are going well for you and enjoy every one of them
During all the stages of the journey, it helps to have a gratitude mindset as your mind focus on what you have and not what you lack of.
Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. In addition, behavioral and psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress.
Ways to practice gratitude
🙏 A common method to develop the practice of gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. Writing down every day a list of three to ten things for which you are grateful; you can do this first thing in the morning or before going to bed at night.
🙏 Write a gratitude letter to a person who has exerted a positive influence in your life but whom you have not properly thanked.
🙏 Create a gratitude jar and place every day one piece of paper with something you are grateful for.
🙏 listening to Flowithme gratitude meditation on Spotify
It is very easy to get caught up in the middle of the storm. It takes resilience and a different mindset to turn the storm into a powerful force to keep you navigating and come to the other side of the storm.
I have found over the years that these 5 tips have helped me to not only navigate out of the storm but also come out stronger from it.
Do you feel you are currently in the middle of the storm and could do with some help to navigate through it? ⛈ 🌊⛵️
Mental health has become a big part of our well-being that has been impacted immensely during COVID-19. We are all sailing through the same storm but on different boats. It can be very challenging time and having support and access to different tools will help you sail through the storm.
Flowithme has designed a life coaching and meditation programme to help you to find the stillness and regain control over your mindset and your life. .
A 40 day course that includes 4 life coaching sessions with Sara looking at ways to improve your mindset as well as a daily email with different meditation practices to help you relax the body and mind.
STARTING DATE - September 1st
Price: €350
Booking here : https://flowithme.as.me/4hourspackage
If you feel you could do with some help during the storm, let’s have a call and I will explain how the programme and support group is going to work.
I am only opening this to 7 people. Do you want to be one of them?
To know more about coaching, contact Sara on sara@flowithme.com or +353 851 387984.