Life Lessons—Unexpected Storms

by Reba J. Hoffman, Ph.D

Last Sunday, Edie shared the horrible scare she and her family faced when her youngest sonbroke his back. Now that’s something that will turn your world upside down!

I can imagine how it went. They were enjoying the night before Thanksgiving. Most likely they were sitting by the fire watching a favorite flick. I bet Edie was knitting as the scenes played out on the big screen TV.

Then the unexpected storm—and certainly something no parent ever wants to hear—came blowing in out of nowhere, fracturing her blissful evening and raining terror on her peaceful little world.

Storms…

I lived in Florida for over four decades and have ridden out my share of hurricanes. Did you know they are not the most destructive? Not by any means. We prepared for them. We know exactly how to prepare. We have our plywood labeled and we just secure them in place before the storm hits.

In the sunshine state, the most damage is done by the summer storms that pop up out of nowhere and blow through with gale force winds. They spawn tornados, dump tons of rain on the roadways and catch thousands of people unawares.

It’s those storms like Edie experienced the night before Thanksgiving that cause us to emotionally tumble end-over-end completely out of control in life.

The same can be true for your writer’s life. Powerful storms can rain down on you with a force that seemingly won’t ever let up. When that happens, there are some things you can do to help you weather the storm. Here are a few:

• Remember that it is temporary. As remedial as that seems, it’s usually the last thing we think of when the storm is raging.

• Draw on past experience. Don’t worry. You don’t have to start a think tank in the middle of an emergency. The wisdom is in you and it will bubble up exactly when you need for it to.

• Trust your instincts. Remember, God created you with creative brilliance. Even though it doesn’t seem like it during the storm, you really do have within you the ability to ride it out.

• Evacuate when necessary. There is no shame in abandoning and running for cover when conditions deteriorate. Evacuation is usually only temporary but, just like in a hurricane, running for cover places you at a safe distance away from the storm’s fury.

Look, you won’t see those unexpected storms coming. But come they will and when they do, you’ll get through them. You’ll come out on the other side.

What was the last storm you faced in your writing? Or in life? How did you weather it? Share it here!

Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.