“You’ve either got too much of something or too much of something else, but then just around the corner there’s a light behind the rain.” -Leftover Salmon
It can often be overwhelming the moment we’re in, filled with anxiety or with too much of what in certain quantities may be a good thing although in this moment certainly is not. It can seem like a storm of thoughts, building chaos of events out of our control and a ride we can’t get off. In those moments nothing seems to settle and it may feel like we are drowning or just barely keeping our head above water.
The flood of our emotions, whether triggered by seemingly positive change or loss often feel equally powerful and staggering. Sometimes all we want is that routine that prior may have seemed tedious and monotonous or even a new one to take its place. The truth is by moving forward we have outgrown that season and routine we had grown used to. And the only way to settle the mental mayhem is to allow the growth to guide us in framing a new mantra to match and new routine to align with our current season.
Think of a spring rain; it spurs literal, tangible growth. Our tears and storms of our own can be our own visceral rain feeding the growth of our new chapter. If we allow ourselves to begin to be open to this new practice, we will start to see the light behind the rain. In turn, whatever it was that we felt we had too much of now will seem to be the perfect amount. Did we have too strong emotions? Too much uncertainty for our comfort level? Did we have too much invested in our current situation to see the storm ahead? Did we have too much time to overthink every reason keeping us from taking our next great leap?
The easiest way I have embraced my current storm of emotions both positive and negative, as it has been a healthy mix, is to find a new perspective and practice. Some of it has been through yoga, or finding time and a new approach to listening and playing music to decompress at the end of each day. To find the light in each challenge and embrace the opportunity as a gift, knowing there is always light behind the rain.
I have lived a somewhat conflicted Type A chaotic life in many respects. Not only did I never want to commit to an arbitrary routine, but also I was blinded by the rain of my mind tricking me into thinking there was no benefit to be found in any routine. Through a practice of meditation, running, journaling, yoga, cycling, swimming and writing again I have discovered how beautiful of a routine I can create for myself in each new season. There is nothing arbitrary about routine at this point, each piece is focused on a different peace of mind or perspective piece of growth. Knowing that I can’t tell exactly where the next chapter will lead with exact certainty, but concurrently knowing that with vision and reflection I can find the light behind the rain. I can use this inspiration to find forward and set new goals. Find a new focus, allow the growth and let the rain for now fade.
Ad Astra Per Aspera