Sunset After The Storm
Last Monday, the 22nd of March 2010 was a day that the people of Perth, Western Australia will remember for many years to come. The heavens opened up and it rained, then poured and then started sending hail that ranged from the size of golf balls to cricket balls. Some escaped damage, and others had the unfortunate circumstances of wrecked cars or homes damaged from water or hail that viciously came through windows, ceilings, walls or backed up onto floors and gardens.
Here is a brief video that a local shot on the day of the storm for those of you who were not here in Perth to experience it, or if you wish to ‘re-live’ the experience.
The purpose of this blog post was not to elaborate on the damage, the wrecked cars, the numerous amounts of insurance claims now in queues, but to share with you my true inspiration from the storm.
The Sunset After The Storm which was the day after, was one of the most breathtaking I can remember. I ran to get my camera and capture the sky with it’s most magical hues of pink, orange and red.
This to me is reflective of life. The ups and downs of life are representative of a storm. Emotions like rage, anger and hate can be shades of black and grey and be so dim. Going through rough periods can make you feel like you’re in a black hole, falling down a dark tunnel, bleak and even fearful. The sky that late afternoon got so dark around 5:00pm, that you thought it was midnight. The power went out creating even more darkness and quietness which was quite eerie. Amazingly enough, it was such a different sound compared to the ‘buzzing’ that is constantly surrounding us. It was also another reminder how we take things for granted like electricity, which we have grown so dependent on.
On the other side of the spectrum, to balance out that dark, black vicious sky – the most amazing brightness that painted the sky literally made me stop and give thanks for the many blessings in my life.
I quote my mentor, Dr John Demartini, “Nothing has ever happened or can happen to you that is not a gift and a blessing, but it’s difficult to be thankful until you find the hidden benefit in what may seem at first to be a negative event. Gratitude makes you present with whatever you are doing.”
I’ve learned that it is more than just being positive, or thinking positive. It’s about being truly grateful for what is, as it is. Not living in the guilt of the past, or fear of the future, but truly in the present…that’s why they call it a gift 
.
Balance comes from focusing on what we have in our lives that we are grateful for. I’ve been consciously asking myself, when I catch a negative thought, or complaint in action. Is this an empowering thought, or a disempowering thought? We have the power and the choice to change that. It doesn’t have to dominate. Choosing which way is so liberating.
So whatever storm you may be going through in life, ask yourself: Am I acting in an empowering way, or a disempowering way? Are my thoughts empowering or disempowering? If I want a different outcome, the first major step is to change my thoughts and the rest will follow.
Choose to see the sunset, appreciate the sunset, be grateful for the sunset, rather than focusing on the storm – the darkness, the destruction, the damage. Look for your ‘Sunset After The Storm’….good luck on your journey!