Face the storm!

 

Did you know that bison are the only animal that will run head-on into a snowstorm rather than run from it? That's right, these furry beasts have a unique strategy to deal with harsh weather conditions. They know that the longer they run from the storm, the longer they will remain in the storm, thus causing more harm than good. By running head-on into the storm, they accept that it may be worse for a moment, but that will soon pass, and the worst will have gone by. The other animals in the group are still running, caught up in the storm.

 We can learn a lot from these brave and intelligent creatures. Sometimes, we face challenges that seem overwhelming and scary, too. We might be tempted to avoid or run away from them, hoping they disappear. But that rarely works. Instead, we end up wasting time and energy prolonging our suffering and sometimes ruining relationships and such along the way. What if we tried to face our problems head-on like the bison do? What if we embraced the discomfort and uncertainty, knowing it would pass and we would become more robust and wiser? We may find that our fears are not as bad as we imagined and that we have more resources and resilience than we thought. This is an idea I ran from myself for a very long time.

 Of course, I'm not saying we should unthinkingly charge into every situation. Sometimes, running away is the best option, especially if our safety or well-being is at stake. But other times, we might avoid something that could help us grow and improve ourselves. For example, you may have been putting off a difficult conversation with someone, a project you don't feel confident about, or a change you know is necessary but scary. Maybe you have told yourself that you will do it later, when you feel more ready or when things calm down. But deep down, you know that later never comes, and things never calm down. You are just stuck in a loop of procrastination and anxiety. That's when you must channel your inner bison and face the storm head-on. You need to take action, even if it's small and imperfect. You must trust yourself and your abilities; I doubt myself every day; even if you question yourself, you must embrace the challenge and the opportunity, even if it's uncomfortable and uncertain. Remember that this, too, shall pass, and you will be better off.

 I was guilty of this for most of my life. I ran from everything, and everyone, me included. I ran in fear of judgment and rejection. I lied, pretending to be who I thought people wanted me to be, ashamed of who or what I was or felt I was rather. I lived under the umbrella of my past. It took me 38 years and the fear for my own life to be able to face that storm, and I admitted myself to the hospital. Let me be the first to say that I wish I had met the storm head-on initially; life and the people in it are too precious.

 

So, what do you think? Are you ready to be more like a bison? Do you have any examples of how facing the storm head-on has helped you in your life? Let me know in the comments. And remember to share this post with your friends who might need some bison inspiration. Thanks for reading!