How To Weather Lifes Inevitable Storms

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How To Weather Lifes Inevitable Storms

How To Weather Lifes Inevitable Storms

In the Northeast, we have a few months to prepare for winter by gathering firewood, securing windows and doors, and getting furnaces cleaned. As with any change, there is always a period of adjustment required. Often change in our lives doesn't occur so predictably.

Change can seemingly come out of nowhere and catch us off guard. We are unprepared, shocked and numbed by the news of the results of some medical tests we had, that the job we've worked at for the past twenty years is being phased out or, as what happened in Florida recently, a hurricane blows through and wipes out everything in its path. In order to heal from our wounds and disappointments we must turn on our feelings and not stifle our emotions.

Did you know that crying is actually the bodies' way of keeping us from collapsing? When we allow our tears to flow it releases built up emotions like a cloud bursting from the full weight of rain. The rain then washes down clearing the air and renewing everything.

Like the rain, our tears wash away the toxins built up in our bodies. Yet, many of us are taught that crying is a sign of weakness and must never be shown in public or even in private. We are all taught to "toughen up" if we are to survive when what we need to do is loosen up and let our tears flow.

When was the last time you allowed yourself a good cry that wasn't in reaction to a sad movie but a reaction to something that happened in your life?

When we are cut off from any of our feelings and emotions this only creates more suffering. Avoiding and denying our circumstance delays us from moving forward in our journey to authenticity.

Like the animals, birds, and butterflies that take refuge from the cold by migrating to warmer places or to a dark cave for the winter, we also need to find places of refuge and comfort as we wait for the sun to return in our lives.

This month, if you find yourself needing a little shelter from life's inevitable storms, spend a time creating a space in your home where you can go and cocoon. Make your space inviting and nourishing. Fill it with soft blankets to wrap up in and pillows to hold. Add music, candles, flowers or plants and whatever symbols or photographs that bring you peace and hope.

You can also create this space in your imagination. Think of a place that brings you peace. Picture all of the details of this place: the sounds, sights and smells. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed by change and needing refuge you can close your eyes and go to this safe and nourishing place.

Remember, the sun will come out again and summer will return.

Nancy Bishop is a Life & Inspirational Coach. She provides coaching to women at midlife who are in career and life transition. For more information and to subscribe to her monthly newsletter, Authentic Living News, visit her website at http://www.yourlifeyourway.com

In The News:

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Gaza fighting rages despite cease-fire proposal (AP)

AP - Israel resumed its Gaza offensive Wednesday, bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour lull to allow in humanitarian aid. Hamas responded with a rocket barrage.

Pink slips pile higher amid deepening recession (AP)

AP - Pink slips are piling higher as companies scramble to cut costs even deeper to survive the country's economic and financial storms.

Obama taps spending watchdog, eyes Social Security (AP)

AP - Pointing with concern to "red ink as far as the eye can see," President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy.

Senate Democrats yield to Obama, retreat on Burris (AP)

AP - Senate Democrats beat a hasty retreat Wednesday from their rejection of Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor, yielding to pressure from Obama himself and from senators irked that the standoff was draining attention and putting them in a bad light. Burris said with a smile he expected to join them "very shortly."

Fatal Calif. train station shooting sparks anger (AP)

AP - Protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer turned violent Wednesday night with windows broken, fires set and train stations closed.

Obama hails 'extraordinary' moment with presidents (AP)

AP - Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club.

Melting snow causes heavy flooding in Wash. state (AP)

AP - Rain and high winds lashed Washington state Wednesday, causing widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures as the heavy snowfall that has buried parts of the state began to rapidly melt.

'Dark Knight' sweeps People's Choice Awards (AP)

AP - Holy People's Choice Awards, Batman!

Feds say inauguration attractive terrorist target (AP)

AP - The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan. 20 event.

Lin, Harvard upset No. 17 Boston College 82-70 (AP)

AP - Jeremy Lin scored 27 points to lead Harvard to an 82-70 upset over No. 17 Boston College on Wednesday night, three days after the Eagles upset previously top-ranked North Carolina.

Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel (Reuters)

Reuters - At least four rockets fired from Lebanon exploded in northern Israel on Thursday, wounding two people, police and medics said, in an attack likely linked to Israel's offensive against Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip.

Obama to lay out case for stimulus in speech (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama will call for quick action on a fiscal stimulus package in a speech on Thursday aimed at reassuring Americans that he is determined to stem the economic crisis.

Profit warnings, job losses herald lasting slowdown (Reuters)

Reuters - A fresh wave of profit warnings and job cuts soured investor sentiment on Thursday after an employment report suggested U.S. job losses in December could be the worst in almost 60 years.

Senate Democrats move to seat Burris (Reuters)

Reuters - In an abrupt switch, Democratic leaders began talks on Wednesday to swear in Roland Burris, appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Buyers rejoice: Manhattan home prices finally fall (Reuters)

Reuters - It took war, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and the collapse of some of New York's famed investment banks, but Manhattan apartment prices are finally falling.

Mumbai-like attack could happen in U.S. : Bush aide (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. cities are vulnerable to an attack like the gun-and-grenade assault that terrorized Mumbai for three days and killed 179 people, the White House homeland security adviser said on Wednesday.

Citigroup, U.S. senators in mortgage legislation talks: report (Reuters)

Reuters - Citigroup Inc is leading other lenders in advanced talks with key U.S. senators on legislation that would allow judges to set new repayment terms for millions of mortgage holders who wind up in bankruptcy court, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people involved in the talks.

"Enemy combatant" will be early test for Obama (Reuters)

Reuters - The case of Ali al-Marri, accused of being an al Qaeda "sleeper" agent and held for 5-1/2 years at a U.S. military prison in South Carolina, will be an early test for President-elect Barack Obama.

Israeli army fires into Lebanon after rockets fall: spokeswoman (AFP)

AFP - The Israeli army fired into northern Lebanon on Thursday after rockets were fired at the Jewish state, an army spokeswoman told AFP.

Israel bombs Gaza tunnels as peace moves gather pace (AFP)

AFP - Israeli warplanes bombed suspected arms-smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza early Thursday, as diplomats worked to secure a ceasefire in an offensive that has killed 700 Palestinians.

How To Weather Lifes Inevitable Storms

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