A Matter of Attitude

By Esther Cohen

As a child growing up in Brazil, home to tropical storms, plans were often disrupted by heavy rains, thunder, and lightning. The sudden deluge made getting places difficult, stopping us in our tracks and causing not a little frustration.

Life brings many types of storms. Some storms are unexpected, sweeping us off our feet with their suddenness, making it difficult to move forward. Some storms set us off course, causing us to redirect, while other storms are internal, raging inside our minds and hearts. Yet once the storm passes, it can bring relief to the heavy weather, helping us feel fresh and reinvigorated.

How you face the storms in your life is a matter of perspective. As our senses perceive the onslaught of the metaphorical gales and heavy rains in our lives, it triggers automatic thoughts and feelings beyond our control.

What you do once you notice where your thoughts are heading is a matter of choice. Sounds simple? It is not, but it is certainly achievable. Like running a marathon, it takes determination and training to master the art.

Once perceived, it is our conscious choice whether to dwell on unhelpful thoughts and feelings or to minimise them by using mindfulness techniques like breathing, grounding, or distractions to gain back control.

Storms come and go. Rather than passively waiting for the storm to blow over, it is about developing a growth mindset and learning to dance in the rain.

Think positive, put some music on and dance your troubles away!!