An Anchor in the Storm of Life

“All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today.” --Pope Paul VI

We live in an unpredictable world.  Just when things seem to be going well, a storm hits and things change.  We all have to face the storms.  They are an inevitable part of being human.  But, why is that some people seem to weather the storms of life unscathed while others struggle?
I often use the analogy that it is like we are on a boat anchored by the shore.  When the storm comes, if we don’t have a strong anchor, we will be pulled out to sea.  We need a strong anchor to keep our boat secured during the storm.  So, what makes for a strong anchor?  It is clarity on what we value and living in alignment with our values.  Every time our words, behaviors and actions are in alignment with our core values, we add weight to our anchor.  The more we live life from our values, the stronger our anchor becomes.  When we forget and get busy with things we don’t value, our anchor weakens.  Often, it is only when the storm hits that we notice we are without a strong anchor.  We find ourselves drifting aimlessly in confusion and without direction.
Every day is a new opportunity to demonstrate our values.  We can choose to interact with others in ways that are in alignment with who we say we want to be, or not.  When we notice that our anchor is not as strong as we would like it to be, it is an opportunity to decide how to strengthen it.  Every moment is a choice point for how we want to show up with the people around us and for ourselves.  Every interaction can either strengthen or weaken our anchor.  The choice is ours.
What can you do today that will strengthen your anchor?