The storm was at full force by the time I finished my run. All I could see were dark clouds, lighting and rain all around me. It always amazes me how storms come out of nowhere, and in a matter of minutes can wreak so much havoc. Life’s storms often behave the same way.

You’re going through your daily routine and then there’s a call or a text message and everything changes. As if you were out for a walk in the beautiful sunshine and before you knew, the skies turned to gray and a storm catches you by surprise. Do you know what I’m talking about? If you live long enough you will. Those moments are not easily forgotten. I remember conversations, texts and calls where in an instance, everything changed. Words like “accident, I’m leaving, this is not working out, you’re overdrawn” have a way to instantly create a huge downpour on our sunny day.

But I also noticed something about storms. They don’t last forever. Some last long enough to do a lot of damage, but they eventually go away. By their own nature, storms are never permanent. My natural tendency is to forget that. No matter how many storms I have gone through, once I’m caught in one, I tend to live in the moment making long-term decisions during a short-term crisis.

I’m not sure you’re going through a personal storm right now. We are either in one, coming out of one or waiting for one to pop up. But here’s how I have been handling them:

1. Take care of the immediate.

2. Don’t make long-term decisions to fix short-term problems.

3. Learn from the experience.

4. Understand another storm will come. It’s not a matter of “if”, but of “when.”

5. Enjoy life during the sunny days knowing you’ll be better prepared for the next one.

How did you handle your last storm?