Eye of the Storm

The eye of the storm is a region of calmer weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones and is characterized by light winds and clear skies.  The eye is surrounded on all sides by a towering, symmetric eyewall which contains the storm’s strongest winds.

Eye of the Storm

The eye of the storm is a great metaphor to consider when encountering overwhelming changes.

Changes

It is true that the only constant in our human lives is change. We are forever evolving and growing, as are our surroundings and the people in them. Change is simply something we cannot evade, no matter how much we try.

As business leaders, we are all too familiar with change.  Most of us recognize the continual nature of change and have developed business processes and personal habits that allow us to see and respond to the changes as they occur.

What we are not always prepared for, however, are the changes that are so substantive that they have the potential to overwhelm us.

It is these changes we have a difficult time being prepared and overcoming.

Overwhelming Changes

Overwhelming changes will make you feel unsettled, lost, and insecure. They will make you question the choices you made to initiate the change or, conversely, desperate to understand the meaning of a change you did not initiate.

These are all natural sensations to have, especially when you’re knee deep in change.

The reality is, it’s easier to see the growth and purpose of change once it’s passed, yet when you’re in the eye of the storm, it can feel impossible to comprehend.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can learn to feel calmer and more confident amid overwhelming changes.  And it doesn’t even have to be hard.

In fact, it can be as easy as doing any one or more of these six things:

1. Recognize that it’s OK to feel overwhelmed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or drained by the change you’re going through, the worst thing you can do is beat yourself up about the way you feel. This will only make you feel worse, and unnecessarily so.
2. Acknowledge that this too shall pass. Everything passes. Nothing is ever fixed and that includes every situation you are going through. Even the change in itself, and especially how you feel about it, will pass.
3. Care for yourself.  Change takes more out of you than you think. Even if it’s a change that you’ve done before, like opening new offices or reducing staff, it’s still a new change. It can be draining, and you have to make sure you are kind to yourself when you’re going through it.
4. Remind yourself you’ve overcome change before. Think of previous challenging times that you overcame. This will remind you that you are capable of going through challenges.
5. Celebrate the positives.  These positives might be tiny little steps you take forward to feel more in control.
6. Seek support. You do not have to go through this alone. Ask for support from your loved ones and seek others who are going through similar changes so you can provide mutual support.

The Bible

One of the many advantages of relying on God for advice and support is that He never changes.  Scripture says.

I am the Lord, and I do not change. And so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not yet completely lost.   (Malachi 3:6)

The Lord himself will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.  Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The image is Creator who will never leave us stranded with a problem.  If our problems are a storm in our life, our God is the one to place us in the eye of that storm where all will seem calm, with light breezes and clear skies while all else is raging turbulence around us.

It is in the calm, given to us by God, where we can think clearly and react appropriately.  Include God as part of all your problem solving, and you will find your solutions easier to come by.