Last week, Hurricane Milton swept through Florida. Fortunately, we were spared the brunt of the storm on the southeast coast, but we still experienced a taste of its immense power. The anxiety surrounding the storm was palpable. Touted as the “storm of the century,” Milton left businesses shuttered, streets silent, and residents sheltering at home—an eerie reminder of pandemic lockdowns.

Though my family and I personally escaped the worst of it, many communities were not as fortunate. Milton carved a grim path across the state, leaving destruction and loss in its wake. Initially, it felt overwhelming—how could anyone face such power without feeling like a victim? But reflecting on the storm, I was reminded of a deeper truth: Storms—whether physical or metaphorical—are inevitable in life. As Buddha said, “Life is suffering.” Pain and adversity will find us, but we have a choice: these storms can either break us or make us better.

Here are my key lessons from reflecting on many of the storms and full blown disasters in my own life:

     1. Embracing the Storms

We live in a world that glorifies comfort, pleasure, and ease. Yet, real growth occurs when life forces us out of our comfort zones. Always sunshine, only desert. Without storms—whether they take the form of challenges, loss, or failure—there is no true growth.

When is a tree strengthened? Not on calm days, but when fierce winds force its roots to grow deeper. These same winds that threaten to uproot it are the ones that secure its durability. 

It is said that the north sea made the Norseman. Meaning the grit of the Norsemen was forged by surviving harsh conditions of their environment. Likewise our character is built through the storms we face. Anyone can sail on a calm sea; strength is developed when we confront the gales head-on.

     2. Becoming Antifragile

The concept of resilience—the ability to bend without breaking—is useful, but it’s incomplete. Life’s storms shouldn’t just return us to our previous state; they should make us stronger. Antifragility, a term coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, goes beyond resilience. It describes things that don’t just survive adversity—they thrive because of it.

A great fictional example is the Sword of Gryffindor from Harry Potter. The sword absorbs the qualities of courage and strength from the one who wields it, and it even becomes stronger when exposed to deadly elements of the wielder's adversaries. In the same way, we have the opportunity to absorb strength and come back as a better and stronger person from the challenges we face. 

I experienced this first hand when I was training for the Hong Kong ultra marathon. In my first attempt, the training was grueling, and race day brought the added challenge of an unexpected ice storm. I didn’t finish the race and almost came to the conclusion I was not cut out for ultra-distance running.  However after spending some time reflecting on what I learned about myself during the experience, I came to the realization that I was now better equipped.  On my second attempt, I completed the 100km feat. More importantly, the journey expanded my comfort zone, allowing me to grow not just physically but also spiritually, mentally and emotionally.  

We can’t control life’s storms, but we can control our response to them. Will we let the storm tear us down, making us into bitter victims, or will we let the winds root ourselves deeper and allow the rain to nourish our growth? Our response will determine our outcome. Like the Sword of Gryffindor, we can absorb the lessons and qualities that the storm brings that will in turn prepare us for the battles ahead.

     3. From Survive to Thrive

When faced with adversity, many choose passivity, giving away their power and agency to the circumstances. But to truly thrive, we must be intentional, leaning into life’s challenges rather than retreating from them. Thriving requires effort. It means engaging deeply with every experience, even the uncomfortable ones. Action precedes feelings, and consistent action leads to growth which provides the personal satisfaction we are seeking.

As Napoleon Hill once said, “You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the win-lose record of a referee.” Growth is not a passive state; it requires us to actively engage, to wrestle with discomfort, and to embrace the messy parts of life. Those who thrive do so by not seeing the storm as a threat but as fuel for transformation.

     4. Storms Clear the Path for New Growth

A storm can be nature’s way of purging the old to make room for the new. After Hurricane Milton passed, the landscape looked drastically different. Trees were down, power lines tangled, and flooding ravished entire neighborhoods. However over time, the waters will recede, the power will be restored and the debris will be cleared. Often, what replaces the old will be better than the original.

Similarly, the storms in our lives strip away what no longer serves us, forcing us to adapt and evolve. If we choose to see storms not as destructive forces but as purifying ones, we can use them to clear the way for growth and renewal. Every challenge carries an opportunity for transformation.

     5. The Hero’s Journey

With every storm we face, we advance along our own hero’s journey. A compelling story isn’t one of constant victory; it’s filled with trials, setbacks, and moments of doubt. By definition, a hero is someone who overcomes adversity.  A life without struggle would be a dull story, devoid of meaning and growth.

When storms hit, we are given three choices: to be a victim, believing we are powerless; to be a bystander, watching life unfold without engaging; or to be the hero, stepping into the storm and embracing it with courage. Heroes know that trials are inevitable, and they use these moments to build their strength and character.

As the apostle Paul wrote, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Each storm has the opportunity to refine us, to shape us and make us stronger for future challenges.

Rising Stronger

The next time a storm blows through your life, remember: you have a choice in how it will affect you. Pressure has the potential to either break pipes or make diamonds. When it hits, will you succumb to the pressure or rise above it? If you choose in your response to rise, you give yourself the chance to not only overcome the storm but also emerge stronger, more courageous, and more prepared as a result.

Storms are not to be considered as just moments of trial but rather as opportunities for growth and transformation. They can clear the way for something new and better, allowing you to emerge stronger, more courageous, and more capable than before.

As your reflect and consider ask yourself the following questions:

What storm in your life—past or present—has shaped you the most, and how did you respond to it? 

When faced with adversity, do you find yourself taking on the role of a victim, bystander, or hero? 

What area of your life currently feels like it needs to be “cleared” or renewed by a storm?

Brad Pedersen

Vijay Krishnan

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