Turbulent winds ripped off the yellow rooftop in a gust, flung its panels down the road in a neighbor’s yard; while the peaceful ocean didn’t seem so peaceful anymore, tossing boulders over cliffsides, on the shore. And yet the power of this hurricane was raw and beautiful, making waves, making room for something more.
Storms of life can strip us of material, emotional, and mental support structures that we may be clinging to, taking for granted, or failing to notice. They may rip our life, as we know it, away from us, to free us up and focus us on growth-related things. Sometimes the framework we think we need is the crutch that is holding us back. Once removed, we find the freedom to further expand; the space to blossom outward into the reaches of our dreams, to fulfill our purpose, and connect directly with the universal streams. When we, through higher consciousness, link to the substratum of the universe, the conscious vibrating light underlying all things; we can co-create our world, through higher things. Sometimes storms remove barriers, open doorways, and catapult us into worlds we’ve never seen.
Acceptance
One of the courses commonly presented by the Storms Of Life is Acceptance. The first lesson in this course is Self Acceptance. Really all lessons in Acceptance teach Self Acceptance in some way, since it is through it that all other forms of acceptance are made possible. So anytime we encounter situations that seem related to this topic, they are mirrors reflecting our need to further accept ourselves. When we accomplish this (accepting ourselves), the rest happens naturally. This occurs through greater self awareness, non-resistance to what we discover, non-judgment, and non-attachment to people, places, and things. Meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and journaling can heighten our awareness in the wake of the storms. Work with a trusted shrink, alternative healer, or spiritual teacher could also help with this.
Perspective
Another course offered by the Storms Of Life is Perspective. Through it, we learn to see our experiences, including the stormy ones, from increasingly widened angles, broadened views, and heightened contexts. Whether losing my external vision to blindness, being brutally assaulted by eight cowardly rednecks, having to be cut out of a flattened car after it was demolished by a drunk driver, or any of the other traumas I have survived; I have learned from these storms, and the effects they have had upon my life. I have learned how strong and resilient we are, and how we can overcome virtually anything. I have learned to listen to my body, mind, and spirit and not traditional medicine; to believe in healing miracles; to believe that recovery is possible. I have been told numerous times that I would never walk again, that I would never regain the use of my shoulder or arm, etc.; and each time I focused on spiritual healing, physical therapy, and return to weight training, cardio, and yoga; and each time regained the full use of all parts of my body. If I had listened to the doctors, I would be a vegetable by now (if I had accepted what they told me, and not fought to regain my strength and functionality). I have met people, while going through these experiences, that have changed my life. I have been able to put my beliefs about myself to the test in ways I never could have without the traumas. I have discovered a deeper, heart-centered way to live and love. And what I have gone through is nothing compared to many of those I am blessed to encourage.
If you are currently going through a struggle, focus on ways to feel and express love, see beyond the pain, and have faith in your ability to survive beyond the storm. In fact, try to view the storm as a needed change agent, and then look for the growth it is preparing you for. We are all capable of surviving human storms, and transmuting them into ways to heal and grow.
Photo credit: Gian Luigi Perrella
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