Walk through the storm

Arthur Marara Motivation
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass . . . It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” [Vivian Greene]. We all go through storms in our personal lives, our businesses, our careers, and those who are married, might also go through storms in their marriages.

There are many businesses that are going the storm and even facing the brink of collapse. Sometimes you might be going through this despite the fact that you are doing the best that you can. I do not know which storm you might be facing, maybe your company may be facing liquidation, winding up or judicial management, creditors are on your doorstep. The cases are too many to mention, but the reality is that there are storms. I want to talk to that person who is going through such a phase, and want to tell to tell to walk through the storm.

Storms are real and essential

Storms do take place in life, but do not let them immobilise you. These times are not easy, but rudimentary to our personal growth and development. They will not destroy, they will expose the real you. Greatness comes through great trials.

“Adversity is like a strong wind. I don’t mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.” [Arthur Golden].

Do not let the storms of life drown you, capitalise on them and let them propel you higher. Champions are borne in times of crisis. They challenge their challenges, and make history. They refuse to give in, and they commit not to give up.

Keep moving

The only way through the storm is to go through it. Challenges might tempt you to stop and give up on whatever that you are doing. Being stationary is not going to stop the storm, and neither is complaining about it going to do any wonders.

Keep moving. It does not mean it’s easy, but it is necessary for you to continue moving. Harness the courage to keep moving. Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked that, “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.

There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”

Maintain the focus

Distraction comes in the midst of a storm. Everything is rearranged, the panic mode often switched on swiftly. Do not be distracted by what you are going through, focus on where you are going. Do not remove the eyes from the ball. Doe Zantamata sums up this principle in a profound way, “When passing through the storms of life, please remember: 1. It could be worse. 2. It will get better.

Stay strong, focus on what you can do, not what you cannot, and know that the clouds will soon part, and the sun will return again.”Greatness is not without its share of challenges. Champions overcome obstacles and their names are recorded on the sands of time.

Every storm has an assignment

This might be difficult to understand and grasp especially when you look at the intensity of the pain that you might go through. Every storm that you go through will leave you a better person. Discover the purpose of the storm you are going through in life. Haruki Murakami aptly puts the principle across, “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. 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.”

“It is well with my soul” — The story behind the song

Many people know the song, “It is well with my soul”. For most people the thought that comes to mind is that someone had reached the apex of his life and was thanking God for all the achievements. This is not so.

It was a song that was borne from deep crisis. Horratio Gates Spafford, the person who authored this song was a successful lawyer who had established his law firm in Chicago. He made several investments in real estate. For long he had also been praying for a baby boy. The request was granted.

In a sudden turn of things in his life, the real estate was destroyed in a great fire which swept across Chicago in October of 1871. The properties were destroyed. The same applied to the law firm that he had established. His son also got sick and died.

He thought that he and his family needed to get some time to sit down, rest and refresh in a different environment. To this end he sent his wife and daughters to England. He was to follow them later due to a business commitment that had just arisen.

On the trip to England, on November 22, 1873 the ship got shipwrecked, all his daughters died in the accident. Spafford’s wife was the only person who survived the accident. Upon arrival in England, she sent a message to Spafford saying, “Saved alone. What shall I do . . .?”

This was very disturbing to Spafford. He then set out to go to England. He passed through the spot on which the accident had taken place. Upon looking at the scene, the words came to him, “When tears like a river attended my way, when sorrows like sea billows rows, whatever my lot thou has taught me to say it is well, it is well with my soul.” Your story can provide healing to other people.

Join me on Star FM on Wednesdays (09:30am-10:00am) for some moments of inspiration on the Breeze with Tariro and Iyati.

Arthur Marara is an Attorney, Author and Speaker. He is also the author of the “Personal Development Toolkit”, “Keys to Effective Management” and “Keys to Financial Freedom”. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Whatsapp: +263 772 467 255 or visit www.arthurmarara.com <http://www.arthurmarara.com>.