To shelter yourself from life’s storms is a good idea, to protect your emotional health. We all go through storms, whether on a personal level or a global level. Sometimes there is no point telling people to be happy, if a loved one has just died or something traumatic has taken place. In this case, it’s a really good idea simply to comfort and support. Also see the post on how to cope when pets die.
Although it’s popular these days to ‘only surround yourself with positive people’, this is not very kind to those who are going through rough times. At a time of great concern, this philosophy means leaving millions of depressed, lonely and isolated people left behind. To be truly ‘spiritual’, you stay with them. And hold them or talk or listen through their struggles, even if takes months or years to shelter from life’s storms. That’s real spirituality, not leaving them to fend for themselves.
No storm can last forever. Keep in mind that trouble comes to pass, not to stay. Don’t worry. No storm, not even the one in your life, lasts forever. Iyanla Vanzant
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The State of Disbelief is by psychotherapist Juliet Rosenfeld, whose husband died of lung cancer 7 months after their marriage. As she navigated her own devastating experiences, she found herself disagreeing with the oft-quoted ‘working your way through the stages of grief’. Instead, this is a beautifully written meditation on what the investment of love means, and how to find your own path after bereavement.
- This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart is a beautifully written book by Susannah Conway. A gifted writer, her world fell apart a few years back, when the man she loved suddenly died from heart problems. Her whole life took a different direction in minutes. This is the story of how she gradually returned to the real world. And how she can help you find comfort.
- 10 Scriptures to Help You Survive the Storms of Life is by Andriana, who runs a lovely little blog, adored by thousands who receive weekly doses of encouragement and devotionals to survive life’s tough stuff.
