Facing Emotional Storms

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I’ve been through emotional storms. We all have in our lives. A torrential downpour will hit, and we can choose to duck and cover or open our mouths to taste the salty raindrops.

Storms can hit us in all aspects of our lives: It may be an inner emotional flood, a hurricane at work, or a relationship snowstorm. When the storm comes crashing in on us, though, we often need to make a choice. Do we turn to face the sleet and ice head-on, or do we retreat into the safety of a warm, cozy cabin to ride out the storm? And do we enlist the help of a trusted loved one or try to face the storm all by ourselves?

We could always cower and hide from the storm, drumming our fingers and awaiting the rescue team to scoop us up on their shoulders and cart us home to safety. Or on one brave day, do we choose to strap on our snowshoes and traipse through the deep drift—with the help of a “hiking partner”—knowing full well we could be covered by an avalanche if we’re not careful?

My inner self knows the difference I feel when I face the storm. Sometimes I’m scared, shivering, cold, and wet—but I know I always have my trekking partner. When I strip off the freezing garments and gaze at the sludge I just traipsed through, I feel victorious and satisfied, knowing I bravely waded through what would have been much easier to avoid. And there are always insights and wisdom that seep into my brain after such a storm. We all have days when we decide to retreat to our safe cozy cabin, but turning to face the emotional or situational storm can be a defining moment in one’s life.

Inner Shelter in the Storm

At times, our shelter in the storm comes from within. It may be taking those three long, deep breaths or counting to 10 before responding to an upset loved one. Perhaps it’s taking a walk outside in the sun to gather our thoughts when our boss is pushing on a deadline. Or maybe it’s having a good cry when life gets to be a bit too much. There are also many healthy ways we can deal with the stress of life, including the emotional, relationship, or situational storms.

The Journey of Emotional Storms

Perhaps this time we dip a toe outside into the freezing ice and slush and, realizing we are stronger than we think, plunge our foot in and begin the hike. Often, the best way to face a storm is to traipse through it side-by-side with a trusted loved one or counselor. When the blizzard hits, we throw on the heavy snow jacket and venture into the cold, buoyed by our newfound might and support—and perhaps a new compassion for the storms of those around us. And maybe next time we will offer our heavy winter jacket to the shivering friend next to us while we help them wade through the muck. We’ve been through this storm before; we can weather it.

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After the storm has passed, we gaze down the flooded street or snow drifts towering above our heads to assess the damage. It is then that we may understand the deeper meaning of the storm and why we needed to plod through it.

Maybe the storm exposed an underlying crack in our inner terrain that needed to be gently repaired. Perhaps we saw the other person’s viewpoint for the first time and felt an inkling of what it must be like to walk in their boots. Perhaps this time we saw their pain and fear, which allows us to be a little softer and more understanding with them next time. This helps us remember that we’ve all had inner and outer blizzards at some point in our lives.

Reaching the other end of the snow-lined trail, huffing and puffing and out of breath, I’m satisfied that I trudged through this storm—but I didn’t do it alone. We don’t have to forge our own path through the blizzard by ourselves. Take a hiking partner for your next emotional storm—whether it’s a loved one, trusted friend or counselor. Now take a deep breath, knowing you’re one of the courageous ones.