Hurricane Helene and Milton, like many natural disasters, left many of us wondering how to cope with and accept the horrific aftermath of these powerful storms. This is especially true if you went through the storms—especially in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, where Helene became a cyclone, or the areas of Florida hit by tornados. If you, your family, friends, or loved ones were impacted, you are likely asking this question.
My niece and her husband and son live not far from Asheville, NC, one of Helene’s most hard-hit areas in that state. She was one of the lucky ones. Her house was not harmed, and they could drive to another location until power, water, supplies, and Internet are restored.
Others were less lucky.
I know many people who live in Florida—some on the West Coast, where there was flooding. However, I’ve also been concerned for those on the East Coast who might have had severe tornado damage.
But these are not the only current natural disasters. In the U.S., wildfires are raging as I write this post in Idaho, Oregon, California, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Arizona. That means people have evacuated and lost homes, loved ones, animals, and livelihoods—just as with the hurricanes.
Beyond Comprehension
I find myself feeling and behaving a bit like I did after 9/11. I can’t stop watching social media videos about the damage wrought by Helene and Milton, sharing information meant to help those impacted, and listening to the news.
It’s hard to fathom being in your home, which usually sits atop dry land, and suddenly find it filling with water and floating away with you in it. And to be someone who knows their family members experienced this and to not be able to discover what became of them…to believe the worst, that is truly unimaginable.
It’s also difficult to understand what it might be like to discover your home has fallen into the ocean or been so severely damaged it is beyond repair. Or that your animals were killed in the storm.
How does one cope with something beyond comprehension?
Let me just say that I have not experienced such a tragedy. And I don’t want anything I say in this blog post to seem callous. It is not meant that way. My intention is simply to offer coping mechanisms and strategies to help you cope with and accept what has happened.
Without such mechanisms and strategies, you might feel as if you, too, are drowning in turbulent waters.
Also, I intend to offer more spiritual—not religious—ways to view natural disasters and tragedies. It is my hope that these provide you with some comfort.
Have Faith
Let’s start with faith. Suppose you believe in God, Source, the Universe, or a Creator. In that case, you can come to an understanding that everything happens for a reason. We can’t always understand that reason, but we can trust that everything is somehow happening as it is supposed to happen.
I don’t believe the Creator punishes us. I do believe It has our best interests at heart—even when it doesn’t appear that way.
So, if you feel challenged by what you see or have experienced due to these hurricanes (or any other disaster), have faith. Turn to prayer. Lean on God.
A Soul’s Choice
I believe we all have a soul, which is a spark of Divinity always connected to its Source. If you believe this, you might also share my belief that the soul chooses its human experiences in each lifetime.
If you agree, you must accept that, on some level, the souls of those who experienced the recent hurricanes chose to do so. They had a lesson to learn, a role to play, or a purpose to accomplish.
I once heard someone say that all the people killed during 9/11 chose to leave their physical bodies. Why? Because they knew they could do more good as nonphysical beings.
Maybe those who died during Helene and Milton chose that experience. They may now be able to serve humanity in a way they could not while still in physical bodies.
Interesting Evolutionary Experience
The late Stuart Wilde observed world events, including natural disasters, and would say, “Interesting evolutionary experience.”
He didn’t judge events as good or bad, right or wrong, happy or sad. He simply observed without attachment and didn’t get emotionally involved in that event or the people impacted by it. He watched in a detached manner and, I suppose, learned his own lessons in the process—the main one being not to take on other people’s pain and suffering.
If you feel enormously and emotionally involved in these events, step back and try to get a bit of distance. It’s possible to detach and still care. (Read this post for more information on this concept.) And sometimes, that’s necessary to do what is necessary after a disaster.
After all, if you allow yourself to be swept up in other people’s grief, pain, suffering, and overwhelm, you will struggle to help them. To help, you must be emotionally and mentally available.
Focus on the Future
The past is past. All you have is the present. The gift of the present is that in the now moment, you can choose what future to create.
Since you can’t change the past, focus on the future.
- What do you want to create now?
- Who do you want to be or need to be?
- What do you want your life to look like in one, two, or three years?
- What steps can you take right now to create that?
When you lose everything, it’s a chance to create everything—including yourself—anew. What benefit might you find in that rebirth?
It goes without saying that if a natural disaster impacts you, you first need to grieve your loss. Take some time for this process. Then, turn toward the future.
And stand in your power. You don’t have to become a victim of your circumstances. Don’t call yourself a victim of a hurricane. Instead, call yourself a victor and take bold steps toward rebuilding your life.
See the Good
When you focus on the positive, you see positive things. Look for the good in these natural disasters, and you will find the good.
People have pulled together since Hurricanes Helene and Milton, just like they have in most disasters throughout history. With the enormous division in the U.S. and around the world, people working together and helping each other is a welcome sight.
We need that unity more than ever before. And the fact that people are dropping differences for a greater cause does the heart good. It provides faith in humanity.
So many stories have surfaced of heroes—first responders, neighbors, and strangers. Each one can remind you that something good has come out of these situations—and there is good in the world.
Something New is Being Born
There is much talk these days about the massive shift in consciousness happening. Earth and humanity are up-leveling.
I look at the impact of Hurricane Helene and Milton and wonder if this is part of that process.
We can blame gigantic storms on global warming, which significantly affects the size and strength of the most recent hurricanes and the current wildfires. However, maybe Earth is going through a transformation process, and these storms, like earthquakes, are growth spurts. They may be part of the transformational process.
The same could be true for those impacted by natural disasters. Possibly, this experience is necessary for some people to reach an increased level of consciousness.
The same could be true for those not impacted but paying attention to these events. They experience the disasters vicariously and change as a result.
Gratitude Goes a Long Way
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the power of gratitude. In fact, even a little gratitude goes a long way towards helping you cope with and accept a natural disaster.
It’s impossible to feel grief, loss, or stress when feeling grateful. Therefore, if you make a conscious effort to feel grateful for anything—finding a photograph in the rubble, discovering that your animals, friends, or family members are safe, being given a case of water, receiving a hug, or having a place to stay while you rebuild—you will begin to relax and become happier.
Also, when you feel grateful, you raise your energetic vibration. Not only does that make you feel better and change your outlook, but your energy impacts others. In fact, as you raise your vibration, it raises the collective vibration. Thus, everyone starts to feel a little better.
Feeling grateful helps you and others more than worrying or feeling sorry for those impacted by the hurricanes. Your worry, stress, sorrow, or anger add to other people’s struggles.
Therapy, Counseling, and Coaching
Of course, therapy, counseling, and coaching can help you find ways to cope with and accept these horrific disasters. Reach out to a therapist, if you feel the need. Contact a spiritual counselor to help you find answers and hope. Or hire a coach for support as you find your way forward, especially when your circumstances seems out of your control.
I have only just touched the surface of this topic. And I know my point of view might seem unimportant—even inappropriate—given the magnitude of loss and devastation so many have experienced after these two hurricanes. But know that I am seeking to help in my own small way. I hope my perspective and strategies prove helpful to you.
How are you accepting and coping with the horrific natural disasters caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton—or some other disaster? Comment below, and share this post with someone who might benefit from reading it.
Image courtesy of alfamax76.
