April Showers...Finding Gratitude in the Storms of Life

“Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, here would be no life.” – John Updike

The Powerful Storms of Life

There are some circumstances in life that we just cannot make sense of. As much as we try to gain a greater understanding of the WHY, we find ourselves stuck in the middle of the thunderstorm, with no reprieve from the imminent stormy weather. Are you currently navigating one of life’s rainstorms? Often it may feel as if we are perpetually in the middle of a storm, trying to dredge our way through as we remind ourselves of the saying, the only way through, is through. Some days, through may not even feel like an option, so we breathe, and try to take it minute by minute, then hour by hour, then day by day and eventually, week by week. Then, the day comes when all of a sudden, we are through it.

Have you ever reflected and asked yourself, how exactly did I weather that storm? How have you navigated these challenging moments in the past? How are you faring now? What if there was a way we could help ourselves through the powerful storms of life simply by being a bit more intentional in the midst of them? This is what April's GNR blog will consider.

“A little rain each day will fill the rivers to overflowing.” – Liberian Proverb

It is often our mindset that can help us navigate life’s storms. We can't avoid them, but we can face them in a different way. There will always be pain and suffering; it’s part of the human experience to navigate the full range of emotions. While we can't pick and choose what happens, we can pick and choose how we handle what happens by refocusing on what we can control in the midst of the storm. That’s how we regain our power. Finding our strength to control our response, even when feeling fear and anxiety. The more we lean into acceptance of what it is, we can face it, get through it, and rise above it stronger than we were before.

"To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is." -Thích Nhất Hạnh

The Power of WHY?

Often one of the greatest obstacles we face during a stormy season is how we navigate the WHY? Remembering that there is great power behind the WHY, and refocusing ourselves to lean into this contemplative thought, is where the game changes. If we can move from asking ourselves WHY this is happening, leaving us stuck in pain, to a place of leaning into the pain while seeking purpose, we can surrender our control. We can allow the lesson to guide us through the storm with more ease.

When thinking about the season of storms we are challenged with throughout our lives, I thought about the old saying April showers bring May flowers. Likely because it is now April, the start of Spring, a time to re-pot and plant seeds (if you’re a plant person, I like to try to think I am) or even just by bearing witness to and holding space for others who are navigating these storms at this present time. Maybe there is a greater meaning for this season and this time of year? Maybe the showers of April are here washing away what’s no longer serving us and helping us to grow into what’s to come in May? Maybe the storms of this season are supporting us to become more grounded in the coming seasons?

The saying, "April showers bring May flowers," originated in the UK, describing the bloom of flowers in late April and early May due to the cooler climate. It is thought that the saying came from a line from a poem "sweet April showers, spring May flowers." It is the rain, cooler climate, and smoggy weather that nourishes what is hidden under the dirt, helping it rise up through the soil to bloom in the sun and warmer temperatures of May. It is the water that provides the vital nourishment for this growth in May. This can serve as beautiful symbolism to help us lean into the storms we may be going through right now.

What if this month’s storm represents more than just the challenging time you may be currently in, but also makes way for the growth that is meant for you as you move through it? Maybe there is a gift in the middle of the storm? A moment of gratitude to lean into in the acceptance of the present moment, in order to keep moving through to the other side?

“Give thanks for the rain in your life which waters the flowers of your soul.” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The Power of Water

Water is essential for life. Without rain, seeds would not sprout, crops would not grow, and drought would occur. Water is essential for all forms of life. What if we began to embrace the April Showers, the storms of life, as a source of change, transformation, and growth? What if something greater awaits us?

While water is essential for life, water is also one of the most receptive of all elements and is considered a universal solvent because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid. Water has a neutral pH, making it the most cohesive of all the non-mental liquids. Another fun fact about water is that it is also adhesive, meaning it sticks to any surface. Pure water does not conduct electricity but rather becomes a conductor when it starts dissolving substances around it. Air pressure also plays a role on water, as it impacts its boiling point; the higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure, the lower the boiling point of water, hence the longer it takes for an egg to boil. Water is pretty cool, isn't it?

The human body is made of up of roughly 70% water. This varies slightly by person, but water is essentially in each and every cell in our bodies. Water is vital in every aspect of our being, our body, our environment, and our food. Without water there is no life. With that said, water also affects our emotional and mental wellness. For example, if we are dehydrated, this can impact our mental clarity, our focus, our sleep and even heighten our emotional states. Pretty powerful, isn’t it?

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain. -Unknown

The Power of Water & Our Words

Dr. Masaru Emoto, of the Hado Institute in Tokyo, has spent a large part of his career studying the effects of water and the phenomenon of "Hado."

Hado: the intrinsic vibrational pattern at the atomic level of all matter. The smallest unit of energy, the basis is the energy of human consciousness.

His work has been featured in documentaries, articles and books depicting the impact of different forms of stimuli on water. His research supports the theory of Hado, that both verbal and written words have the power to change the expression of water on a molecular level based on which type of stimuli is presented; positive or negative. The intention is believed to be the driving force changing the molecular structure; the Hado phenomenon. This clip from the documentary What the Bleep Do We Know, features Dr. Emoto's work and below are photographs of water on the molecular level from his experiments after being presented with either a positive or negative stimuli. Look at the difference!

If positive or negative stimuli can impact water at a molecular level, think of the power of your words and intentions have on you. Think of how powerful our thoughts and beliefs are while we are experiencing the storms in our lives? Hopefully this helps you understand how re-framing our thoughts can be so powerful. Trying to understand that all storms have a lesson and giving ourselves some grace as we learn these lessons, even when we don’t understand them at the time.

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm but to add color to my sunset sky.” – Rabindranath Tagore

The Power of Your Words & Gratitude

Why is Gratitude important when we are in the eye of the storm?

In GNR's March Blog, The Miracle of Mindfulness, I discussed how being mindful includes both positive and negative emotions, being in the present moment and seeing each moment for the emotion and situation for which it truly is. So, when considering the storms we face in the moment, we must also be able to see it mindfully for what it is in that moment, even if it is distressing. In addition, we find more of our own power in the moment by simply saying or thinking to ourselves "I am strong, I have weathered storms in the past and I will get through this one too, I am resilient, I am loved." In the book, Your Body Believes Every Word You Say, Barbara Levin has a brilliant way of explaining the mind body connection, when she, herself, was diagnosed with a, then-inoperable, brain tumor and realized the power of her own words and the words of others on her condition. This concept has been a part of healing work for thousands of years, finding its origins in Eastern philosophy.

With that said, what we tell ourselves matters. If the intention of a positive or negative word changed the molecular structure of water, I challenge you to consider how powerful your own words and thoughts are on you? A key point here is, you don't necessarily have to believe it is possible to weather this storm or any storm you are experiencing, you just have to keep saying you do. Channeling the power of positive affirmations to change your mindset in the midst of chaos.

“Everything in life is vibration." -Albert Einstein

Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe

When you think about all things, humans, and objects, having an energy field that has its own vibration. It makes sense that what we put out energetically tends to return to us (The Law of Attraction). When we consider that the universe is entirely made up of molecules, all of which are vibrating at different speeds, humans, animals, flowers, emotions, and thoughts all have different vibrations. It makes sense that when we are more at ease and happy, we are vibrating at a higher frequency than when we are depressed or feeling heavy. Research shows that a healthy body resonates somewhere between 62-75 Mhz. So being intentional about raising your vibration will keep you healthier. Things that help to increase our vibration are all things we have discussed in previous blogs such as: journaling, movement, being in nature, meditation, mindfulness activities, doing something for someone else or spending time with those who are supportive and positive, all raise your vibration.

Gratitude vibrates around 540 MHz, being grateful vibrates on the same level as love. It’s one of the highest vibrational frequencies you can be at. The more time you spend in gratitude, the more your body’s frequency raises and the happier and healthier you become. Gratitude and negativity cannot simultaneously exist in the same moment. So, by leaning into something you are grateful for, even in the darkest of times, will immediately raise your vibration.

So, are you ready to help raise your vibe with a little Gratitude? What if that helps you through this rainy season with a bit more ease and a feeling it has a greater meaning? I encourage you to give it a try and ask a friend to join you as well. Find your vibe tribe. My hope is that for those few moments your thoughts will shift away from the storm and connect to something different, something raising you up and giving you the strength, you may need to weather this storm.

This April 2023 GNR Blog is dedicated to all those who are currently in the eye of the storm. Know that you’re not alone, we are here with you, fighting with you and walking besides you on your way through. You are strong, you are resilient, you are loved. And on a personal note, I am sending a special shout out to my sister. You are one of the strongest warriors I know, and I will continue to fight beside you each and every day. You are deeply loved.

Are you becoming more open to the idea of welcoming Gratitude into your daily life? Are you currently in a rainy season? Are you open to allow others to support you on your journey? Please share in the comments below how we can send positive intentions out into the universe for you this month. If your April Showers are stress, thoughts of relapse, challenging relationships, or health issues, share just one word in the comments below to allow us to start sending positive vibes your way. And always remember, Grateful NEVER Relapses.

About Grateful Never Relapses

Welcome to a community where the belief and mindset is one in which recovery is possible for everyone! We believe that through gratitude, mindfulness, and awareness of all that is around us and within us, recovery is possible. When you shift your awareness to come from a place of gratitude, even in the most challenging or darkest of times, Grateful NEVER Relapses! The hope for this forum is to offer a brave and safe space to embrace your recovery journey with gratitude. We plan to share useful resources and tools to help you embody gratitude into your daily life. While we understand that everyone's journey is unique to them, we hope you are able to share in the power of gratitude in your own healing journey and realize the doors it may open and the walls it may take down, while recognizing and embracing the power of gratitude within!

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Keep sharing the love, grateful beings!