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You can’t control the storm, but you can control how you sail


You can’t control the storm, but you can control how you sail through it. Stay ready.

This was a post I made recently on X, and it speaks directly to resilience and intentionality — the powerful combination that determines how you navigate those trying times when life feels like an endless bombardment of chaos and uneasiness.

Let’s face it: this is life. You are bound to encounter some piece of the ugly nature of reality, one way or another — whether it's in business, personal finances, relationships, health, or some other unexpected area. No one is exempt.

It doesn't really matter how good your intentions are or how pure your heart may be; the hard truth remains — life can be crushing. Life can make you feel as though you are clothed in helplessness, like you are being served on a platter to be devoured by circumstances beyond your control.

But here’s the ironic beauty of it all: that is the nature of nature itself. That chaos, that unpredictability — it is part of the design. And if you truly want to benefit from life and reap its rewards, you must learn how to navigate through it, not wish it away.

You must understand — because you didn't create nature, and you certainly don't control it — many things will happen in ways that may not necessarily seem best for you. Life happens to people every single day. Deals go bad. Politicians make selfish policies that affect millions. Relationships that once seemed unbreakable crumble. Plans shatter into pieces. Sickness springs up out of nowhere. Unexpected losses shake the strongest of hearts. And the list goes on.

These are just a fraction of the many forms of storms happening daily in the lives of different people across the world. And because, like they say, this is all simply “part of life,” there really isn't much you can do to stop some of these events from happening.

But — and this is important — don’t get it twisted. Just because you cannot stop these storms from brewing does not mean you are powerless. It doesn’t mean you can't control the chaos that tries to flood your life along with them.

Yes, I get it — sometimes the pain, the disappointment, and the frustration that result from these storms can be overwhelming, near traumatic even, if we're being honest.

And yes, I also understand that despite your best efforts, there will be moments when you might just decide to throw all your good energy, patience, and calmness out the window and respond to the madness with an equal madness of your own. If that happens, it’s fine. You’re human. It’s natural. No need to beat yourself up.

But the ultimate goal — the bigger picture you must always keep in view — is to try, as much as possible, to contain the storm. Or at the very least, to let the storm run its course without costing you more than it absolutely has to, especially when it comes to your mental energy.

This is crucial. Because challenges will never stop coming. And if you keep spending all your good energy reacting aggressively to every single one that pops up, you may end up becoming a replica of the very chaos you are fighting against — and that’s a loss you cannot afford.

Therefore, you must train yourself to control your reactions, to manage your emotional energy, and to respond wisely to situations — not just for yourself, but for all the other important parts of life that need the best version of you.

In simple terms, since you can't control the storm, the next best thing — the smartest thing — is to control how you sail through it. Make sure you navigate the turbulence without allowing it to consume you.

The storms of life will always come. They are part of the test of your capacity, your readiness, your strength. And most times, they come unannounced — no warning, no heads-up, no courtesy call.

That’s why you must never be caught unprepared. You must stay ready — always. Ready not just to survive the storm, but to sail through it like a captain who knows that while the waves may rage, they will never have the final say.

Stay ready. Stay steady.


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