"When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about." Haruki Murakami
Full disclosure, I had another blog entirely written and ready to send. Until. Until I tore off the page of my daily calendar and was met with the quote above. Then BOOM. I knew I had to reflect on this quote and then I thought perhaps you may also find this a useful quote to reflect upon.
Whatever your "storm" may be, I'm going to suggest that the process I followed below may be useful for you too.
Not surprisingly perhaps, the "storm" that came to mind for me was the pandemic. Like many people, I am feeling hopeful as the number of vaccinations continues to rise. Hopeful for a return to some sort of "normalcy" after such a long time in the surreal situation we have been in. Hopeful and also a little anxious. How will I know when to take the next step and do some of the things I haven't done in more than a year? When is it going to feel safe again? Will it ever feel the same again? This reel played for a while. I reread the quote and then I headed out for a walk.
What came to mind for me and what transpired after a twenty minute walk provided an insight that I wasn't expecting at all.
As I was walking I asked myself - think of a time when you came out of a storm before. What popped in my memory was an experience I had more than 30 years ago and, in that moment, it was as clear as day. I had just had a cast removed from my lower leg after eight weeks. As I was working in the hospital at the time, I just had to walk across to the clinic and have it sawed off and then I went back to my department minutes later, to continue my work day. Just like that.
I looked down at my lower leg and observed that it was atrophied, hairy and very pale compared to the rest of my tanned skin. All of a sudden, I felt anxious. I didn't know the first thing I was supposed to do now that my leg was out of the enclosure it had been in for two months. Could I just start doing the things I did before? Was there a specific plan I was supposed to be following to strengthen my leg? Was there going to be a time when I was just going to know that it had returned to its previous state?
As I tracked through this memory I could recall getting the questions answered and slowly finding my own groove again. Some 30 plus years later, I can say that I've barely thought about this, until yesterday and it was such a useful experience to recall. I found some resources in it that I know I can apply to how I am feeling now. After reflecting on this memory, rather than feeling anxious, I now feel equipped.
Now your turn.
Think of a storm you are in right now. Don't linger there. I suggest literally getting up and going for a walk. You can't stay mentally in the same space when you're moving forward.
As you find your rhythm, ask yourself to think of a time when you were in a similar situation before. Let what ever comes to the surface be your answer. Your brain doesn't do random.
Track through that memory and notice what nuggets of wisdom it has in it. You got through it after all; so I'm guessing you gained some wisdom from it.
Now think about your current storm. What's different now when you think about it? How can the resources from that memory that came up be useful for you. Right here. Right now.
Let a couple of words bubble up that capture how you are feeling now.
Remember: "When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about." Haruki Murakami